ODM mourns death of JM Kariuki’s widow, hails her role in keeping his legacy alive
By Mustafa Juma, November 5, 2025The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has sent a heartfelt condolence message to the family of the late Josiah Mwangi “JM” Kariuki following the passing of his widow, Mama Terry Wanjiru Kariuki.
The Orange party has described her as a pillar of strength who carried the weight of a national wound with dignity and grace.
In a statement signed by ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, ODM said it joins the Kariuki family in mourning a woman who not only endured profound personal loss but also became the custodian of one of Kenya’s most significant political legacies.
“On behalf of the Orange Democratic Movement Party, its leadership and the National Secretariat, I convey our heartfelt and deepest condolences to the family of the late Hon. Josiah Mwangi JM Kariuki following the passing on of his beloved widow, Mama Terry Kariuki,” Sifuna said.
Mama Terry lauded
He lauded the late Mama Terry for her remarkable strength, noting that she stood firm at the centre of the painful journey that followed JM Kariuki’s assassination in 1975, an incident that remains one of the most haunting chapters in Kenya’s political history.
“JM Kariuki occupies a special and immortalised place in the history of our nation. His murder remains one of the darkest stains on our Republic. His agitation for social justice, equitable development, and human dignity remains an enduring reference point in our struggle for a more just Kenya,” the statement read.
JM Kariuki’s memory
Sifuna further described Mama Terry as the figure who kept JM’s memory alive, guiding younger generations to understand and appreciate the ideals he lived and died for.
“Mama Terry stood at the centre of that painful journey — the widow who carried the burden of the nation’s collective wound, with stoicism, quiet courage, and extraordinary grace. She bore private pain with public dignity, kept the flame of JM’s memory alive, and ensured his legacy remained a moral compass for generations,” he said.
ODM extended condolences to the entire Kariuki family — children, grandchildren, and the wider clan — praying for strength and comfort during this difficult moment.
The party also expressed hope that the memory of both JM and Terry Kariuki will continue to inspire Kenyans to uphold the principles of justice, dignity and equality, values for which JM paid the ultimate price.
“May Mama Terry’s soul rest in eternal peace. And may the memory of JM and Terry continue to inspire our country to remain true to the ideals for which JM lived, served and paid the ultimate price,” Sifuna concluded.
