Photographer Agnes Kanina recounts personal moments with late Ol Kalou MP David Kiaraho
By Wanjira Wachira, April 3, 2026The abrupt death of Ol Kalau Member of Parliament (MP) David Njuguna Kiaraho has left a deep and personal void in the life of his official photographer, Agnes Wanjiku Kanina, whose tribute captures the quiet, human side of a man she worked closely with and documented through her lens.
Speaking after an interview with a People Daily correspondent on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Kanina opened up about her experience working with Kiaraho and the personal bond they shared beyond official duties.
A bond beyond the camera
For Kanina, her role was simple in description but profound in experience. She was the one behind the camera, entrusted with capturing moments that defined his public and official life. From community engagements to school visits and everyday interactions with wananchi, she preserved memories that told the story of his work and presence. In doing so, she also came to know the man beyond the photographs.
“I do not just mourn a leader. I mourn someone who saw me, supported me and walked the journey with me,” she says.
Working closely
Her grief is not framed in politics or public office, but in personal experience. It is the loss of someone she worked closely with. Kiaraho was someone who trusted her to document his journey and, in the process, became a steady and supportive figure in her own life. Among the many moments she captured, one stands out, not because she photographed it, but because she lived through it.
“During a major political rally, what began as a routine assignment quickly turned chaotic. The atmosphere shifted, the crowd grew restless, and within moments, the situation escalated into violence. In the confusion, I found myself caught in the middle and was attacked and beaten,” Kanina narrates.
“I will never forget how my boss condemned and discouraged such acts. He stood with me during those difficult moments,” she recalls.
On that day, she was not behind the safety of her lens. She was vulnerable, overwhelmed and in pain. The camera she carried could not shield her from the reality unfolding around her. But what followed is what has stayed with her. It is what made her continue working for Kiaraho passionately.
“His concern, reassurance and the genuine empathy Bossie showed reminded me that beyond leadership, he was deeply human,” she says.
In the aftermath, Kiaraho did not step back. He stepped in. He checked on her, reassured her and made sure she felt safe and supported. In a moment when she could have easily been overlooked, he chose to show care.
“Bossie cared not just about the work we did for him but also about our personal well-being as his staff,” she adds.
A legacy remembered
For Kanina, that moment defined everything. It shifted her understanding of the person she worked for. To her, Kiaraho was not just someone whose moments she captured, but someone who valued the people around him. Their journey continued through countless official assignments such as bursary distributions, school visits and community engagements. Through her work, she documented a life of service while building a professional relationship grounded in trust.
“Thank you for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to serve,” she reflects.
She also remembers the passion he had for education, particularly through initiatives like Watoto Wasome, and his belief in creating opportunities for young people like her.
“You believed in our people, in our children and in the promise of a better future,” she says.
Burial plans are underway for his final send off. A funeral planning committee has announced that David Njuguna Kiaraho will be laid to rest on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Tigoni, Limuru Constituency. The announcement was made in Runda, Nairobi County, on Monday, March 30, 2026, by committee chairperson Kwenya Thuku.
As that day approaches, Kanina is left with memories, some captured in photographs, others etched in her heart. In her final words, she offers a farewell that reflects both the official bond they shared and the loss she now carries:
“Rest in peace, Bossie, Daddy wa Power, as you were known,” she stated.
It is a goodbye from someone who stood behind the camera but was never unseen, mourning not just the subject of her photographs, but the person who made those moments matter.