Johana Ng'eno's family mourns again as his only brother dies in hospital

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The only brother of the late Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno has died after an illness, throwing the family into mourning for the second time within five months.

Paul Ng'eno died on Friday night at Tophill Hospital in Eldoret, where he had been admitted and was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

“It is true that Paul has rested after an illness. He was undergoing treatment in Eldoret, where he had been admitted for a long time. The family will issue a statement later,” a family member told the Nation by phone on Saturday.

The death was reported hours after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua visited the late MP's mother, Mary Temas, in Mogondo village, Emurua Dikirr Constituency, Narok County, to pay his respects, having skipped the funeral on March 6.

Mr Gachagua revealed on Friday that the family was unable to pay a Sh1.8 million hospital bill that had accrued following Paul Ng'eno’s hospitalisation.

He stated that he would mobilise his friends to pay the bill following an appeal by the family, which felt abandoned by the government.

“To Mama Mary Temas…. Pole sana on the loss of your son. No words of consolation are strong enough for you at this moment, but only God’s grace is sufficient. I pray for you, Mama Mary,” Mr Gachagua posted on social media on Saturday.

The DCP leader added: “I know that, for a moment, you may question God why this has happened to you and to your sons.”

“Many of us will ask, but the will of God is absolute. We may not understand the pain in your heart at the moment. But it is truly painful to lose your two sons within a short time. May the Almighty God give you the strength during this difficult moment,” he stated.

Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok said: “Losing two children in a short span of time brings forth indescribable pain no parent should endure.”

“On behalf of the residents of Bomet and on my own behalf, I wish you, your family and the residents of Emurua Dikirr God’s comfort during this difficult time.”

Ms Rose Kositany, a former aide to the former MP, said Paul was in high spirits a few days earlier when she visited him and was on his way to recovery.

“You were even excited about your daughter’s KDF pass-out, and you had planned for her thanksgiving, hoping you would be out of hospital soon,” Ms Kositany stated, adding that it was painful for Mama Temas, who was recovering from losing her other son, the former MP, on February 28 during a helicopter crash in Mosop, Nandi County.

The sickness and hospitalisation of the late Paul Ng'eno were not in the public domain until Mr Gachagua made the revelation when he visited the homestead on Friday, stating that Mama Temas had told him that the family was undergoing trying moments.

“The government has abandoned the family. Mama Temas has been unable to purchase drugs she needs to take at her old age, while her only surviving son is in hospital. The family is unable to pay a Sh1.8 million medical bill,” Mr Gachagua said.

He said he would mobilise his friends to assist the family in offsetting the pending medical bill while sorting out other issues affecting the family, with promises made by the government led by President William Ruto remaining unfulfilled.

Mr Gachagua also promised to build a mausoleum for former MP Johana Ng'eno, as requested by the family in a closed-door meeting when he visited them on Friday before heading to a public rally and thanksgiving for DCP candidate in the May 14 Emurua Dikirr by-election David Rotich.

In the helicopter crash at Chepkiep village, Mosop Constituency, Nandi County, those who died were Mr Ng'eno, Mr George Were (pilot), Nick Kosgei (photojournalist), Amos Kipngetich Rotich (an officer with the Kenya Forest Service), Carlos Robert Kibet Keter (a teacher) and Wycliff Kiprotich Rono (a protocol officer at Narok County Government).

Mr Gachagua laid a wreath Ng'eno’s graveside after being welcomed by the former MP’s mother, but the widow, Nayainoi Ntutu, was conspicuously missing.

Reporting originally appeared via Nation Africa. Read the full source for additional context.