President William Ruto’s official photographer, Naitwa Mwangi, has shared a personal tribute recounting how a routine photography assignment led to a lasting friendship with the late Emurua Dikirr MP, Johana Ngeno.
In a Facebook post, Mwangi disclosed that he first met the legislator in August 2018, just a week before Ngeno’s wedding.
At the time, Mwangi did not know the MP personally and had only been referred to him through a mutual contact.
According to Mwangi, their initial meeting took place at a city hotel. He noted that despite their differing political alignments — himself being aligned to Jubilee while Ngeno was known for his loyalty to KANU — the discussion that day was strictly business.
“He told me nothing to do with politics but his wedding,” Mwangi wrote, describing the MP as excited and focused on his big day.
Mwangi said he was equally enthusiastic after securing what he termed as a promising side hustle. His task was to handle photography at the wedding, an opportunity he believed would be financially rewarding.
At the time, President Ruto, then serving as Deputy President, was expected to attend the ceremony. Mwangi explained that this made it easier for him to coordinate logistics within the office and successfully take up the assignment.
He confirmed that he was well compensated for his services and that the professional engagement marked the beginning of a cordial relationship.
From then on, Mwangi said, their encounters were characterized by warm exchanges. He recalled how Ngeno would often jokingly remark that the photographer had charged him “pesa kidogo” for the wedding coverage.
“He was a great man. It’s unbelievable he’s gone. Never to come back. Bad dream, true,” Mwangi wrote.
The tribute adds to the growing list of messages from leaders and associates mourning the late MP, who has been remembered not only for his political career but also for his personal warmth and friendships beyond party lines.