Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has been thrown into mourning following the death of his daughter-in-law, Maureen Nyadida.
The devastating news emerged after Prof Lukoye Atwoli, Francis Atwoli's son, took to social media to mourn his spouse in an emotional message that captured the pain of losing a loved one.
“I will struggle to deal with this. So long, my dear. So long,” Lukoye wrote.
The brief tribute reflected the difficulty he is facing as he comes to terms with the death of Maureen, whom he described as his dear wife.
Lukoye and Maureen had been married for several years, with their relationship occasionally featuring in his public social media posts. The couple had also shared milestones from their life together over the years.
The death has now brought grief to the Atwoli family, with Lukoye's message providing a glimpse into the personal impact of the loss.
Lukoye is a prominent Kenyan psychiatrist and academic who has established a distinguished career in medicine and mental health research.
He serves as Dean of Aga Khan University Medical College, East Africa, and has held several senior positions in medical education and research.
His work has focused on psychiatry, mental health research, trauma and public health, making him one of Kenya's notable figures in the medical profession.
He is also widely known as the first-born son of Francis Atwoli, the veteran trade unionist who has headed COTU for decades.
While Francis Atwoli has maintained a high public profile through his involvement in labour affairs and national issues, his family has largely kept personal matters away from the public spotlight.
Lukoye's latest post therefore offered a rare and deeply personal glimpse into the family's grief.
Details surrounding Maureen's death, including the circumstances and date of her passing, had not been disclosed in the emotional tribute.
As the Atwoli family mourns, messages of sympathy are expected to continue reaching Lukoye and his relatives following the loss.
For Lukoye, however, the immediate challenge remains coming to terms with the death of his spouse, as captured in his poignant farewell: “So long, my dear. So long.”