Njenga Karume's Daughter Jane Mukuhi Wahito Succumbs to Cancer in Israel, to be Buried Abroad

Jane Mukuhi Wahito, the last-born daughter of the late Kenyan Cabinet minister Njenga Karume passed away last week while receiving cancer treatment abroad.

Ms. Wahito reportedly succumbed to cancer of the bile duct on Wednesday, November 27th, at 7 pm at a hospital in Israel, according to Standard Digital. 

An advertisement placed in the obituary pages of a local newspaper indicates that she will be laid to rest at Bahan Kibbutz, Israel on Wednesday, December 4th. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at a later date in Nairobi.

A relative, who declined to be named, told Standard Digital that before her death, Jane asked to be buried in Israel to avoid what happened to her niece Michelle Karume two months ago. Michelle, 26, died cancer in the US in September, days after penning a painful letter appealing for funds from home to treat the ailment.

Before her demise, Michelle had mounted a fierce inheritance battle for her grandfather’s wealth in local courts. During one of the hearings, an emotional Michelle interrupted the session and cried to the judge saying she was suffering and could not afford medication.

This prompted the presiding judge to direct the trustees of Karume’s estate to provide the required funds to meet her medical expenses. Michelle was among those listed as beneficiaries of Karume’s vast estate estimated at Sh17.8 billion last year. 

The relative told SDE that Jane’s burial expenses in Israel will cost about Sh700,000, with only her two sons, daughter, her brother, sister, a niece and nephew attending.

“It was a unanimous decision made by family members, including her children and in-laws that she be buried in Bahan Kibbutz. This is because two months ago, we had a difficult time in ferrying the body of our niece. We don’t want to go through that experience again,” the family member said.

“It was such a sorrowful experience to have outsiders to come and bail the family out while our late father’s estate was enviable only a few years ago.” 

Jane’s husband died 20 years ago and was buried in Murang’a.