Although Mr. Muirani admitted that the Kenyan Embassy helped with “translation” of certain documents, he did not indicate whether the Embassy also helped with documentation for transportation of Kashito’s body, a service that could have been worth mentioning because it was more important than translation.
In his statement that the Embassy helped with translations, Muirani did not say whether the police documents that were translated were acquired by the Kashito committee which took them to the Embassy for translation or whether they were given to the Embassy by Swedish police. In fact, Muirani’s statement tended to suggest that the documents originated from the Kashito committee which may have acquired them from the Swedish authorities before taking them to the Embassy for translation.
The problem with this omission is that if Kashito was a Kenyan citizen, police documents could have been released directly to the Embassy which could have proceeded to translate them automatically then open a file for the case. This is what happened in the case of Juliet. Is the Kashito file at the Embassy? May be, Kottut knows better.
Another party that was entitled to the documents according to Swedish law were Kashito’s immediate family members who could have acquired them then passed them over to Kashito committee which could, in turn, have taken them to the Embassy for translation. This channel of communication was only necessary if the Embassy did not receive the documents directyly from the Swedish authorities.
However, the biggest omission in the Muirani statement is that it failed to mention whether the Embassy also gave “clearance” to the Swedish authorities and the relevant airline that Kashito’s body could be transported to Kenya. Without this clearance, no dead body can enter Kenya from abroad. To elevate “translation services” as the most important business the Kashito committee went to do at the Embassy could raise new and complicated questions.
One issue that Kenyans kept harping on is where cash to transport the body came from. If you asked rumour mongers in the absence of information, the answer was simple. Transporting Kashito’s ashes to Kenya was not too expensive and, in any case, a person’s ashes also constitutes “the body” which has to be buried anyway so? This theory found impetus from the fact that Kashito’s parents and brother never accompanied the body to Kenya, an act which some Kenyans here found strange.
SHOULD KENYA-STOCKHOLMERS RE-EXAMINE THEMSELVES?
According to latest information gathered by KSB, Kashito’s father is reportedly a top police officer in Kenya and once complications arose in the case, the father, mother and brother booked a flight to Stockholm and arrived without the knowledge of some members of the Kashito committee which, nevertheless, was split between an “inner core” of the Committee that appeared to have been in the know about events and an “outer ring” which was permanently kept out of the information loop.
Some members of the outer core were openly complaining to Kenyans that they didn’t know what was going on. This group believes that it had been kept out by core members who were named as Mr. Muirani, Mr. Samson and the Kinuthias.
For example, the “outer core” was never consulted before the cancellation of the harambee that was scheduled for November 28 while they read about the arrival of Kishito’s family members in the blogs. Most importantly, they didn’t know how 20,000 kr that was realised by the Committee was raised while they were never consulted when Muirani led some Committee members to the Embassy.
The agenda with the Embassy was also not known to these outsider committee members. As reports hit the blogs that kashito’s body would be transported to Kenya, some committee members complained that they didn’t even know the airline that was transporting the body, leave alone where money had come from.
According to one “outer core” Committee member, it is very possible that initial meetings at Kinuthia’s residence raised 7,000 kr. However, this member said that unless there were very huge contributions, it was difficult to understand how the amount was raised because not all Committee members were updated. While it was great that money had been raised, the outer core members believed that they had a right to know how money was being raised by virtue of being Committee members.
One question that may linger and that may come back to haunt the Committee is the cause of Kashito’s death. This is because the Njoro reports indicated that investigations would take at least three weeks after which Kenyans expected to be told what Killed Kashito. The subject of the cause of death is very important to many Kenyans because Kashito lost his life at a very prime age.
Before his death, he packed some items and sent them to Kenya through someone who was travelling back home. That was a Wednesday. He was supposed to show up at the airport the following day to say bye-bye but he didn’t because he had already died. On his table was a note from Psalms 23 “The Lord is my shepherd…”. What is not known is whether he wrote this note deliberately before he went to sleep or whether the note was written much earlier before he died.
Now that a statement has been issued by the Chairman of the Kashito committee, Mr. Muirani, it is hoped that the Kashito issue will come to a permanent rest in Kenya Stockholm. Despite the rumours and whoever is spreading them, the death of Kashito remains a tragic event to both members of his family and the Kenyan community at large.
Regardless of the rumours, the Kashito committee deserves credit for work done while the Kinuthias should be accorded the “Thank you” they so much deserve. The Kenya-Stockholm community should use the Kashito case to re-examine itself in all relevant aspects. The work of KSB in the situation will always be to bring the story as it is as this is bound to help with further analysis. In this self-proclaimed mission, KSB will continue to have friends and foes alike.
Okoth Osewe
About the Author
Thanks Osewe for Parts II and III of the late Kashito’s case. Githuku wa Muirani’s vote of thanks still leaves many questions unanswered. Who saw off the body at the airport? Did any committee member(s) accompany the body to the airport? Normally, updates in such cases include step by step events until the body is transported. In the late Juliet Kavinga’s case, all fundraisings, memorial services and transportation were well documented at KSB. Njoro hasn’t reported such on Kashito at his blog.
Kashito’s trail disappears with Njoro’s report that asked Kenyans to view his body at Karolinska Hospital on November 19. Thereafter, we only read about last Sunday’s memorial service which was attended by his parents and Kenya-Stockholmers. Meanwhile, Muirani passed his vote of thanks at Njoro’s blog only after pressure mounted at KSB over some mysterious operations surrounding the Funeral Committee that he led.
KSB has revealed that Muirani’s committee was composed of “inner” and “outer” core members. The outside members found it mysterious that 20,000 SEK was raised without their knowledge. In addition, the arrival of Kashito’s parents was known by the inner core only, etc. Sounds suspicious? Yes.
All these small doses of information trickling down to the Kenya-Stockholm community, justify the theory that Kashito’s legal identity in Sweden was hidden for special reasons. Rumors claim Kashito held a Botswanan identity in his passport.
Interestingly, Njoro paid tribute to him using endearing words, even writing that when they first met while he was alive, the name Kashitoshito sounded strange to him. I quote him: “When I met Kashitoshito and he introduced himself by this name, I couldn’t help laughing. I honestly believed he was pulling my leg as he laughed with me. After the funny moment, I again asked him seriously now if that was his real name. And just as serious he said yes. A nickname perhaps? No. That was it, and the nickname, he willing told me was Kashito.”
Njoro later wrote at his blog that Kashito’s real name had been revealed (in death) to be Aquinas David Nganga. Surely, how could he have been a “friend” to somebody who went by a nickname yet did not know his real name? People you pal around with first tell you their real names, then give you nicknames that they go by. This confirms the KSB theory that Kashito may have come to Sweden via Botswana.
I did a quick check on Google and it is interesting that apart from links related to Kashito due to his death, this name is an area in Angola. An interesting link to Kashitoshito is that of his Facebook profile: http://www.facebook.com/people/Aquinas-Kashitoshito/1172614156 and the next entry on Facebook takes you to a woman in Botswana who linked him as a friend: http://www.facebook.com/people/Rsm-Masalila/720120207
Kenyans commenting at KSB simply want answers to the numerous rumors and innuendos milling around Kashito’s death. Osewe has focused deeply into these circumstances for future references. Milton Muigai who commented at KSB cemented it so well that: “Sweeping statements and behind the scenes intrigue will no longer suffice as mediums of information dissemination.”
This is not a cyber-lynching crusade against Njoro who was being fed information by the Muirani-led Committee. However, he is being challenged for sections of his various reports that still contradict real issues on the ground. More rumors will continue spinning around Githuku wa Muirani and the Kinuthias at the cost of their social reputation, unless they clarify these doubts.
Prima facie evidence can be established from all the rumors surrounding the Muirani-led funeral committee and the reports relayed by Njoro concerning the late Kashito. Why is Muirani silent about those several questions repeatedly asked at KSB?
Viewing of the deceased is a common tradition among Kenyan communities. Who viewed Kashito’s body at Karolinska Hospital? Was Pastor Samson, Brother-in-Christ Muirani or any other Kenyan church leader present? Muirani’s committee did not even report whether this event took place.
When Njoro reported last Sunday’s memorial, I expected to read a eulogy from a close associate or friend of Kashito in Stockholm, but there was none. I wanted to read more from the Kinuthias who presumably knew him better, but all was scanty. What I am trying to say is that Njoro, who called him a friend earlier, should have written more about this guy. What he wrote is the usual Kenyan type of obituary read anywhere in the mainstream papers at home. Who were Kahsito’s Kenyan friends at nyama choma, KTH, his church or other social places? No wonder his death is surrounded with mystery and rumors.
The website mr.seed.com (in the UK) has not reported the progress of fundraising in London where Kashito’s sister lives. The only available information is linked to Njoro’s blog. One may ask why Kashito’s sister who lives closer to Sweden (geographically), did not come to Stockholm. This should have been explained by Muirani. We have learnt that so much information was hidden from Njoro and he could only report what the inner core members wanted to go public with.
Muirani and the inner core committee seemed determined to ward off criticism by playing the classic Kenyan politician’s “card of silence.” This means: “Just sit tight until the whole nightmare dies a natural death. Let KSB steam and boil over with this story, but we shall never confirm or deny what Osewe and others are challenging.” Kenyan politicians have perfected this art: They never deny or confirm what the media report, as long as it does not affect their wellbeing. Muirani who has commented a few times at KSB when not affected by particular stories, has now gone mum since his name is being mentioned. He hopes that Osewe has written the last word on Kashito and that another ‘Breaking News’ will take over and his name will fade. The good thing with KSB is that its archives can be referred to later on when required.
KSB is the place to be if one wants to read critical views on Kenya-Stockholm people and happenings. “Oh, Brother Muirani, where art thou when we need answers on the rumors concerning the late Kashito?”
As other commentators have mentioned, all these rumors require answers, otherwise the mentioned people will be held accountable socially.
Hi to you all,
it is with great saddness that i learn of Kashito’s death. I came to know him while he was in Botswana studying there, and i must say he was one guy who was loved by the natives and fellow Kenyans. Kashito was a name he took so as to benefit from some organisation for his education. A better guy there is none.
Does any one know when he will be burried so i can attend. Am currently in Kenya and would hate to miss.
already done,try another time.
YOU GUYS ARE SO WRONG I KNEW KASHITO IN BOTSWANA N HE GOT A SCHOLARSHIP TO STOCKHOLM AND I AM PART OF THE facebook group HE WAS FROM SUDAN!!!
Nyinyi wakenya walai mukona uwongo gatho mbona muna make up instd of findin relevant sources espe about a guy who has passed away and had no family!!!!!!!!!!!!!y cant u ask the ppl on facebook to confirm ala aibu nyote
@Gina: Please Kairitu, we are trying to let our late friend rest in peace. All the people on KSB cannot be wrong on Kashito. Kashito let you in on what he ‘felt’ you needed to know. Some of us know him from way back primary days….. If you are still in doubt, dare to give your facebook account and we’ll post you pics. Kazi kwako, sasa SEMA.
As salaam aleikum,
We will all miss Aquinas. May his soul rest in eternal bliss. Here in Botswana, he was loved by many who came to know personally. It is unbeliavable he has passed on. He always joked and laughed with friends.
I met kashitoshito in December 2001 , the year he came to Botswana from Kenya. He was in photography business and part-time politician engaging UNHCR Gaborone to solve Namibia Barakwena’s (Bushmen)problems. At second year level,in August 2003 to May 2007, Kashito pursued successfully a Bachelor of Electrical/Electronics Engineering at the university of botswana through DAFI Germany scholarship.
On completion of his studies, Shito left Botswana via Germany to Sweden. Aquinas was issued legally Botswana identity documents by Office of the President which facilitated his legal stay in Botswana.
He was always eager to learn new things. He was a great soccer player and a swimmer until he put on more weight. He continued his profitable photo business on campus and made fortune at local standards.At times, he was attending the local mosque on some fridays for prayers maybe for fun of it. I dont think he was a muslim but anyway he liked enjoyed mixing with muslims. He had Roman Catholic faith background in his upbringing.
Shito was quick to learn languages. He could speak Bushman language within his first year stay in Botswana. He was fluent in setswana just like a motswana.
We loved him as a brother and he will always be remembered in good ways paricularly his endless humour which would ignite his audience made up of common folks.
Indeed, he is a fallen comrade who fought tirelessly against the tyrant and corrupt government of kenya which violates human rights of the majority poor kenyans. As a consequence we kenyans had to flee from our fatherland and suffer in some strange countries. Otherwise, why did Aquinas flee from Kenya and discontinue his studies at JKUAT? Kenya security service was always after his life for indulging in college politics. Fighting for students’ rights. He fled in exile to Botswana. Shito is a freedom fighter just like Dedan Kimathi.
That is the prime (security)reason he preferred to be called Kashitoshito (A japanese name, i think).
Hey guys,
I grew up with Kashitoshito! Before you guys go around wrighting statements that are false, please get the facts right!
Aquinus never fled from Kenya nor is he from sudan! he cleared his Diploma from JKUAT and yes, his home is in Kenya, Dagoretti corner – Racecourse!
Its sad that we have lost a friend as dear as Kashitoshito, what worse is all the speculations!
Rest in Peace Bro…………..
KSB: That is the problem with freedom of expression. Some people say things that are not true while others just spread rumors and propaganda. I have always repeated that people should only say things that can be supported by facts, not spread propaganda.