A prominent businessman, politician and the founder of Patiala Distillers, Francis Kiambi alias Matanka, is dead.According to a close friend of the deceased who sought anonymity, Matanka’s lifeless body was found on Monday, January 9, inside his house.The businessman, who doubles as a politician, was a Tharaka Nithi senatorial aspirant in the 2017 general elections that saw him lose to the current Interior Cabinet Secretary, Prof. Kithure Kindiki.Tharaka Nithi County residents received the news of his death with great shock, with those who worked closely with Matanka terming him a mentor and a revolutionary entrepreneur.Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki heaped praise on the deceased, terming him as an outgoing and hardworking person whose charm would never go unnoticed.“What a beautiful soul he was! He was an asset to our County and Country at large. He was such a progressive person, spending a few minutes with Francis would leave you so motivated and wanting to work harder,” said Njuki.Tharaka Member of Parliament and Chair of the Justice and Legal Affairs committee George Gitonga described Matanka as a mentor to many, whose shoes in the entrepreneurial sphere will be hard to fill.“The sad news has permeated our hearts reluctantly that we have lost a true leader, icon, entrepreneur and role model to us all. Hon. Francis Matanka was my bosom friend, a compatriot and a businessman per excellence.” said the MP.The loss we have suffered today is untold, unbearable and immeasurable. The dark cloud has hovered over us today to bring us sorrow. We grieve and mourn the departed hero,”Matanka escaped death by a whisker in 2017 after being involved in a motorcycle accident at Chuka Town during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s campaign tour of the county on the eve of the year’s general elections.He was being rushed by a motorbike to board his private chopper at Chuka Boys’ High School after the conclusion of Kenyatta’s campaign rally as a way of avoiding the traffic congestion that had built up at Chuka Town.Matanka’s Patiala Distillers is the maker of Kenya’s signature can-beer, Faxe. Other brands of the company include Diamond Ice, Genius Special Vodka and Blue Ice, among others.
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