The International Community of Women Living with HIV- Kenya family is saddened by the news of the passing of Dr. Joe Muriuki who until his death was a Lecturer in Epidemiology
We send our condolences to Dr. Joe Muriuki’s entire family, colleagues, friends and the entire PLHIV fraternity and lastly not forgetting all those that knew him.
Dr. Joe Muriuki leaves a legacy behind and will be remembered for his strong voice, championing the cause of people living with HIV by going public during those extreme days of stigma and discrimination and segregation of persons living with HIV in Kenya as he was the first Kenyan to boldly go public about his HIV status.
“Dr. Joe Muriuki was always a man determined to win in all struggles and never gave up. He was a leader, a brother, a true advocate, an activist, a friend, and a father, He has left a legacy and ours is to ensure that his work sees the light of the day; a society that is free from HIV related stigma and discrimination” said Lucy Ghati, CEO ICW-K.
Dr. Muriuki will be remembered as a founding member of Kenya AIDS Society (KAS) to help raise awareness and dismiss misconceptions on HIV among Kenyans. All this in a time when living with HIV was seen as a death sentence. Together with others, he also founded the National Empowerment Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (NEPHAK) in Kenya and served at the HIV Tribunal as a representative for PLHIVs.
In 1987, Dr. Joe Muriuki was told that he would die in three months but the fighter in him survived and worked tirelessly to give hope to PLHIVs in Kenya and the world for 35 more years. He will be missed by friends and the PLHIV fraternity.
ICW-K Chairperson, Patricia Asero remarked “Our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to Joe’s family. We join Joe’s family, with thoughts of comfort in helping them get over the immense void left behind by the loss of their beloved father and husband. We, the comrades, are here for you during this dark time. My tears are flowing for a friend and a comrade, a great comrade.”
Dr. Joe Muriuki leaves us indebted to his work, “he gave the world life, gave birth to so many especially young brothers and sisters’ who looked up to him as their role model, he empowered many with transformation leadership skills and he leaves us with a question,
Are we out of the woods yet? We shall work to ensure that, that which he fought for is realized.