Mombasa: Mombasa Remand Prison Commander Alex Kazungu Mbitha and his 14-year-old daughter, Claire Heri, were on Friday laid to rest at Kotayo village in Magarini Sub County, Kilifi County in a ceremony attended by thousands of mourners.
According to Kenya News Agency, the 46-year-old Senior Superintendent of Prisons (SSP) and his daughter perished in a road crash in the early hours of Tuesday, August 25, 2026. They were interred at the home of retired Marafa Senior Chief Paul Mbitha Mwambire, the father and grandfather of the deceased.
Until his death, SSP Kazungu served as the Officer-in-Charge of the Mombasa Remand Prison, known as Jela Baridi. Claire, who was on her way back to Mountain View Academy, was remembered for her bright and ambitious nature.
Kazungu’s wife, Rebecca Mumbi, survived the accident at Konza along the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway. In her tribute, she described her husband and daughter as her closest companions, calling Alex a loving husband and Claire ‘an extraordinary child.’ She recounted the events of that night, noting her desperate attempts to save them.
Alex’s siblings and their father eulogized him as a family pillar and spiritual leader. They also highlighted Claire’s achievements, including her participation in an international competition in Malaysia where she won medals.
Classmates from Mountain View Academy in Nairobi shared tributes to Claire, describing her as charming and helpful, and expressing their deep sense of loss.
The burial service was led by Archbishop Harrison Ng’ang’a of the Christian Foundation Fellowship (CFF). Hundreds of prison officers attended, with Coast Regional Prisons Commander Hassan Taari delivering a condolence message from Commissioner General Patrick Oranduh.
Kilifi Deputy Governor Flora Chibule and other county officials offered condolences, with many family members serving in various government roles. Former Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa and Magarini MP Harrison Garama Kombe joined local leaders in mourning, with some political figures subtly criticizing the current regime.
Deputy Controller of Budget Stephen Masha praised the late SSP Kazungu as a dedicated public servant, urging diligence among employees. He also noted Claire’s academic prowess, mentioning her acceptance to Yale University as a world scholar.
Archbishop Ng’ang’a, in his sermon, referenced 1 Corinthians 14:9-10, urging mourners to prepare for eternity and reminding them of the judgment that follows death.
