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Njange Maina and Wangari Njuguna

Murang’a County Senator Irungu Kang’ata has lost his father, one year after losing his mother in February 2019.

The lawmaker’s father was receiving treatment for cancer at Oakwood Hospital in Karen. He died on Sunday, February 16.

“His health has not been so good over a couple of years but finally he succumbed to the illnesses,” said Kang’ata

Kanga’ta who spoke to PD Online mourned his dad as a great parent who shaped his political career and inspired his love for simplicity.

“My dad was jovial and a very simple man. He inspired my rise into politics” said the Senator.

Joseph Kanga’ata, the senator’s father died at Coptic Hospital where he was receiving treatment.

Last year in February, the senator lost his mother who lost a battle to diabetes.

Resembling his son’s simple lifestyle, Kanga’ta reminisced to us how his dad was an avid draft player and on most occasions donned in shorts and ‘akala’ (sandals).

Religious man

The senior Kangata was born in Kahuhia, Kiharu Murang’a County in 1938 and moved to Murang’a town in 1957 where he became a mechanic.

The senator said that his dad was a steadfast beleiver who served as a chairman of two Catholic churches in Murang’a, Mumbi and Gathinja.

In the 1980s, Joseph Kang’ata championed for establishments of Jua Kali sheds in Murang’a town.

Kang’ata said that the death of his father is a blow to the family.