Atwoli’s son Lukoye in mourning as wife dies
By Steve Ireri, September 9, 2026Professor Lukoye W’Atwoli, the son of Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli, is mourning the death of his wife, Maureen Nyadida-Lukoye, after more than two decades of marriage.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Lukoye confirmed Maureen’s death, revealing that he was struggling to come to terms with her loss.
In the brief message, the psychiatrist acknowledged the difficulty of facing life without her and said he would struggle to deal with the loss.
“I will struggle to deal with this. So long, my dear. So long,” he wrote.
Maureen’s death also prompted friends and colleagues to rally around Lukoye as he began navigating the immediate aftermath of the loss.
Among those who went to stand with him was Kenya Medical Association (KMA) President Dr Simon Kigondu, who visited Lukoye at Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
Kigondu used the visit to personally condole with Lukoye following the death of his wife, while also sharing a photograph showing the two together at the funeral home.
In the accompanying message, the KMA president conveyed his sympathy to Lukoye over the loss of Maureen, describing her as his dear wife and offering a prayer that she would rest in peace.
“Condoling with Prof. Lukoye W’Atwoli on the loss of his dear wife, Maureen Nyadida. May Maureen RIP,” he wrote.
Decades-long marriage
Maureen’s death has brought an end to a marriage that had stretched across more than two decades, with the couple having built a family and raised four sons together.
Their relationship had largely remained away from the glare of public attention, although Lukoye and Maureen occasionally allowed Kenyans glimpses into their family life through photographs, anniversary celebrations and interviews.
The couple’s story began in 2001 when they met at a friend’s wedding in Nakuru. Maureen was part of the bridal team while Lukoye was involved on the groom’s side, and the meeting eventually developed into a relationship that culminated in their marriage.
They later celebrated their wedding anniversary milestones publicly, with the couple marking their 17th wedding anniversary in April 2022 alongside their children and relatives.
Their family grew to include four sons — Anyanje, Alubala, Yimbo and Atwoli Jr — whom the couple described as central to their lives and whose upbringing they approached deliberately.
In a magazine interview, Lukoye and Maureen opened up about their approach to raising their children, describing themselves as intentional parents who placed emphasis on communication, understanding their children and discussing problems rather than relying primarily on punitive discipline.
The couple also spoke openly about their relationship, with Maureen describing Lukoye as her “ride or die” and reflecting on the ability of their marriage to withstand difficult periods.
She explained that even when the road became difficult, the couple worked through their problems together, offering a glimpse into the partnership they had built over the years.