Karen tycoon death probe: Family says Francis Kiambi's business was struggling financially

The late businessman Francis Kiambi’s Business Empire appeared to be financially struggling at the time of his death.

Close family members who are still struggling to come to terms with the death of their loved ones while speaking to Citizen TV at the deceased rural home in Tharaka say nonetheless the late Kiambi put up a spirited fight to not only expand his business but also support Agricultural projects he initiated among the Tharaka community, who hail him as a Hero.

Grief and Sorrow engulf the home of the late Francis Kiambi Kirori at his rural home in Nkarini, Tharaka.

Late Kiambi’s mother Pricilla Siampui and his sister Jesica Kajugu are for the 4th consecutive day struggling to come to terms with the devastating news that befell them Monday morning at 9:30 am when their beloved was confirmed dead by a family doctor from the nearby Karen Hospital.

Momentarily, the two speak in low tones, sharing fond memories of their beloved son…as reality hits them that they’ll never share the happy moments with him again.

With the discussion of a Ksh. 2 billion loan application at the centre of a five-hour-long deliberation just hours before the late Kiambi was found dead at his home, the family of the late businessman has shared more light on the Tycoon’s financial status.

"Kulingana na vile tunajua, hapa mwisho …biashara yake haikuwa Sawa sana. Hata kuna wale directors walikuja hapa wakasema kwamba tangu serikali ianze kuweka sheria kali biashara haiendi sawa. Sio vile ilikuwa mbeleni,” Jessica Kajugu said.

According to a police report, the late Kiambi’s wife Mary Waigwe Muthoni told detectives that she fell out with her husband over her refusal to guarantee him a 2 billion shillings loan to start a business. An incident that allegedly led to the couple sleeping in separate bedrooms, on the eve of Kiambi’s death.

According to Investigations, the alleged planned bank transaction was the main discussion during a 5-hour deliberation at the Big Smoke Bar and Restaurant joint, located a few kilometres from late Kiambi’s home.

“There was a bank Transaction discussion involving the wife, lawyer and relative,” Lang’ata DCIO stated.

Besides expanding his majorly alcoholic brewery industry, Matanka, as he was popularly known at his rural home in Tharaka, the local dialect name for watermelon and with time it became a household name, uplifted the economic status of the Tharaka community by introducing watermelon and sorghum farming which transformed the livelihoods of locals. Late Kiambi distributed free seeds and sourced them for companies to buy the product directly from the farms.

“The Watermelon and Sorghum business changed our fortunes…we were able to build stone houses and pay school fees,” Bernard Murimi.

News of late Kiambi’s death continues to shake the Tharaka community, who mourn their beloved son as Tharaka community fallen hero.