Kenya: David Gitundu RIP

Steam motive power and operations in the rest of Africa
Post Reply
User avatar
John Ashworth
Site Admin
Posts: 23606
Joined: 24 Jan 2007, 14:38
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Contact:

Kenya: David Gitundu RIP

Post by John Ashworth »

Charles Raven wrote:Very sad news...I have just heard that David Gitundu, Chairman of the Friends of the Nairobi Railway Museum (FORM), passed away yesterday after an operation at Kenyatta Hospital. I had spoken to on several occasions recently and I think he must have had cancer of the oesophagus. Others will know him better than I did, but I count it a real privilege to have known him as a colleague on the FORM committee. He was an outstandingly cheerful, determined and resourceful man. May he rest in peace.
The second untimely death on the Kenyan steam team in just a couple of weeks. David had been a volunteer at the museum for many years. He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the railway, and could often be found on Nairobi Station telling tourists about the history before guiding them to the museum, which they might never had found without his assistance. He was a leading member of FORM, and over the years he managed to find and acquire for the museum quite a few historic railway artefacts hidden away in the depths of the station and surrounding buildings. I second Charles' words: cheerful and resourceful. RIP.
Image
User avatar
John Ashworth
Site Admin
Posts: 23606
Joined: 24 Jan 2007, 14:38
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Contact:

Re: Kenya: David Gitundu RIP

Post by John Ashworth »

Maurice Barasa, Curator of Nairobi Railway Museum, wrote:Indeed David Gitundu will be missed by FORM in particular and the Nairobi Railway museum family in general. I've been following up his treatment at Kenyatta Hospital. For the last three months he had been unable to swallow any solid food. This really weakened him. May God rest his soul in eternal peace.
Image
User avatar
John Ashworth
Site Admin
Posts: 23606
Joined: 24 Jan 2007, 14:38
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Contact:

Re: Kenya: David Gitundu RIP

Post by John Ashworth »

Kevin Patience wrote:He was a good friend and we went back some time. I used to give him copies of my Zanzibar Railway book to sell on the platform.
Image
User avatar
John Ashworth
Site Admin
Posts: 23606
Joined: 24 Jan 2007, 14:38
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Contact:

Re: Kenya: David Gitundu RIP

Post by John Ashworth »

Thomas Kautzor wrote:Very sad, deepest condolences to his family and friends.

David was a good friend, always helpful to visitors at the station and at the museum.

He recently appeared in a German documentary of a train journey from Nairobi to Mombasa.
Image
User avatar
John Ashworth
Site Admin
Posts: 23606
Joined: 24 Jan 2007, 14:38
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Contact:

Re: Kenya: David Gitundu RIP

Post by John Ashworth »

Geoff Warren wrote:I agree firmly with Thomas. On my visits to Kenya, I found David at Nairobi station whenever the Mombasa train was due or ready to depart. He made a unique, real and very logical and practical way to promote the Nairobi Railway Museum. This was entirely on his own initiative and an example to us all.

If the chance arises, please can those in Nairobi pass on my condolences.to his family.
Image
User avatar
John Ashworth
Site Admin
Posts: 23606
Joined: 24 Jan 2007, 14:38
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Contact:

Re: Kenya: David Gitundu RIP

Post by John Ashworth »

Roderick B Smith, Rail News Victoria Editor, wrote:When I arrived in Nairobi for Geoff Cooke's 2011 tour, I was wandering the
station looking like a visiting overseas railway enthusiast. David
introduced himself, escorted me around the station, showing me signs,
rollingstock plates and architectural detail to photograph. He alerted me
to the imminent departure of the positioning move to Naivasha, so I did get
the photo. On other days he escorted me through the museum, and farewelled
me to Mombasa and/or Kisumu. I did buy a selection of items from his
souvenir stall. He was a friendly and helpful person, and a great
ambassador for Kenya, for railways, for the museum, and not just to railway
enthusiasts. A lot of general tourists were helped while waiting for
Mombasa trains.

I have several photos of David undertaking his volunteer-guide duties which
will be familiar to so many posters/viewers here, with the smile that will
be just as familiar, and highly missed.
I have posted one of Rod's photos, which appeared in the East_African_Steam Yahoo group, at http://www.friendsoftherail.com/phpBB2/ ... 21&t=12082
Image
Post Reply

Return to “Rest of Africa - Steam Motive Power”