'Great friend and support system,' Kanja Waruru laid to rest in Nyeri

In an emotional send-off, tributes poured in with Kanja remembered as a remarkable soul who lived with joy, laughter, and love. He bravely battled liver cancer before passing away on January 23, 2025. 

Family, friends, and well-wishers came together to bid farewell to a man celebrated for a life well-lived—a life full of purpose, passion, and unwavering commitment to those he loved.

"I was his best friend... He cherished me..." said Nelly Kanja, his widow. 

Waruru Kanja his son added, "My father was a great friend and support system."

He was described as a warm and welcoming soul, who had a rare ability to connect with people effortlessly—a virtue that endeared him to many.

"It's only after he passed away that we realized how many people he had. We were shocked at how many people were at the airport when we returned from India," said RMS MD Wachira Waruru said.

During the emotional send-off ceremony, Kanja’s longtime friend Ngari Mahihu delivered a heartfelt tribute that moved mourners to tears. He revealed how Kanja, in his characteristic humility, bore the pain of his battle with cancer in silence.

It was only in his final moments that those closest to him learned of the struggle he had kept to himself.

"After the doctor told us he was cancer stage 4, we rushed with Wachira to India.... At the parking of the hospital is when we received a call that he was no more," Mahiu said.

Beyond his family and close friends, Kanja was a man who brought people together. His influence and connections spanned far and wide.

In fact, it was through him that Dr. S.K. Macharia, the chairperson of Royal Media Services, met Wachira Waruru, the group's managing director—a relationship that has since shaped the giant media company.

"It is through Kanja who is lying here that I met Wachira. It is Wachira who runs the organisation and I can never interfere with his work," SK Macharia said.

Among those who mourned his passing was former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who spoke of losing an extraordinary friend.

The extraordinary journey of a man who has been celebrated beyond measure comes to a solemn close today. As he is laid to rest, his legacy continues to shine, etched in the hearts of those he touched.