Lovingly known as “Chief”
22 August 1948 — 10 November 2026 · aged 78
Retired chief who settled land disputes under a mugumo tree and kept the peace
Runyenjes, Kenya Born in Kyeni, Embu County Resting at Family farm, KyeniWith deep sorrow and humble acceptance of God's will we announce the passing of Chief (Rtd) GERALD NJAGI MURIITHI, former Chief of Kyeni Location, on 10th November 2026 at Embu Level 5 Hospital. Husband to Beatrice Wawira; father to Jackson, Mary and Peter; father-in-law to Esther and John; grandfather to eleven; brother to Mzee Njeru and many. Family and friends meet daily at Kyeni, Embu, at 5.00 pm. Cortege leaves Embu Funeral Home on Saturday 28th November at 8.00 am for Requiem Mass at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Kyeni, then burial at the family farm. M-Pesa Paybill 604418, Account CHIEF. Rest in peace, Chief.
Under the great mugumo tree at Kyeni, there is a flat stone worn smooth by a quarter-century of elders' sandals. It is where Chief Gerald Njagi Muriithi held his barazas, and where he is said to have settled more than four hundred land disputes without a single case reaching the courts. Villagers still call it the Chief's Court, though he always insisted it was only a place to sit.
He was born in Kyeni in 1948, the second of eight children of a coffee farmer. He walked to Kyeni Primary, then boarded at Kangaru School in Embu, and after a short stint as a clerk in the provincial administration he was appointed assistant chief in 1976. He became Chief of Kyeni Location in 1982 and held the post until his retirement in 2008, serving under four district commissioners and every kind of weather.
What people remember is that he listened first. He would pour tea for both parties, ask each to speak without interruption, and then say a proverb so apt that the argument often dissolved on the spot. He mobilised the community to build three bridges, a dispensary and two nursery schools, and during the 1992 drought he organised the distribution of relief maize so fairly that no household complained.
In retirement he farmed coffee and macadamia, read the Daily Nation from the first page to the last, and served as a catechist at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Kyeni. He loved Gor Mahia in a household of AFC Leopards fans and lost every argument with his grandchildren.
He died at Embu Level 5 Hospital on 10 November 2026 after a short illness. He leaves his wife Beatrice, four children and eleven grandchildren.
“A dispute heard properly is half settled.”
Saturday, 28 November 2026 at 07:00 UTC
Add to calendarComing together to honour Gerald and support the family.
Funeral arrangements, tents, catering and burial at the family farm.
Daily at the family home, Kyeni, 5.00 pm
Contact: Jackson Mbogo Njagi
$0 raised of $3,100.78
Elders and villagers organising contributions and community mourning rites.
Under the mugumo tree, Kyeni, Tuesdays and Fridays 3.00 pm
Contact: Elder Njeru Kithinji
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Fellow retired chiefs arranging a guard of honour and supporting the family.
Embu Town hall, Mondays 2.00 pm
Contact: Catherine Wanjiru Nyaga
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Requiem Mass planning, choir and prayer evenings.
Parish hall, Wednesdays 5.30 pm
Contact: Fr. Anselm Mugo
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Secondary education
Kangaru School1962 – 1965 · Embu
Boarded and became a prefect and debating champion.
Clerk, provincial administration
Embu District Office1969 – 1976 · Embu
Learned the administration from its filing cabinets.
Assistant Chief, then Chief of Kyeni Location
Provincial Administration1976 – 2008 · Kyeni
Served the people of Kyeni for thirty-two years.
Married Beatrice Wawira
1974 · Embu
A marriage of fifty-two years.
Catechist
St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Kyeni2009 – 2026 · Kyeni
Taught confirmation classes for seventeen years.
Head of State Commendation
Republic of Kenya1999 · Nairobi
For meritorious service in local administration.
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Gerald is survived by
4 people have shared a memory of Gerald.
Knew Gerald? Share a memory with the family and everyone who loved them.
Sign in to write a tributeNiece in Toronto
Uncle Gerald once sent me a letter after my graduation saying that the best chiefs are the ones who listen. I now lead a community clinic in Toronto and I listen first. Thank you, Uncle.
Parish priest, St. Joseph's Kyeni
As a catechist the Chief was unmatched. He taught confirmation classes with a stick he never used and a patience we all admired. We pray for the repose of his soul.
Former assistant chief
He trained me for seven years and corrected every report in green ink. He told me that an administrator's job is to make small problems quieter. I use that lesson daily.
Elder, Kyeni Location
Chief poured tea for both sides before every case and made us all laugh before he made us all agree. The mugumo tree will keep his stone warm for a long time.
