Wangethi’s other affairs in NMG

His love affairs with Irene Karanja (his former secretary), Veronica Kinyanjui (former Features Editor), Linda Gacheru (a junior staff who rose through the ranks rapidly and ended up in a plum job in HR Dept), Wahu (formerly of Advertising Dept), Njeri Mwangi (formerly a reporter of Editorial Dept), and Claire Gatheru (a reporter who was axed in the recent retrenchment) are not any secret to staff who have worked with Wangethi for a long time.

Both Veronica and Wahu have sons with Wangethi. Wangethi panicked when Wahu died of Aids complications a few years ago.

Through the instigation of Wangethi, feature writer Wambugu was shown the door by former Managing Editor of the Daily Nation, Mr Tom Mshindi, after he discovered that Wambugu and Veronica were having an affair. When Wangethi was the Group Managing Editor, his office was on third floor at the corner where Bernard Ndiritu has an office and it overlooked the features desk. He often left his office door open to have a glimpse of the goings on at the features desk. He became so uncomfortable when he saw Wambugu sitting close to Veronica. It was a known fact that Veronica had a soft spot for Wambugu.

In fact, one day Wangethi went to visit Veronica at her house in Dagoretti and by bad luck, Wambugu was in bed with Vereonica. When Wangethi knocked and Veronica drew the curtain and say who the visitor was, Wambugu had no alternative but to slip under the bed. Wambugu had to endure the agony of being under the bed for hours as Wangethi took over from where he had left. Wambugu only emerged from his hideout after Wangethi had finished his mission and left.

It was a close shave for both Veronica and Wambugu, who were both juniors of Wangethi. The story has been told by Wambugu so many times that it’s like his national anthem. But he takes pride in that he led the way and his boss followed in the same hole! Veronica ended up being married to Wangethi’s buddy Mbatau Wangai.

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