Monica Waithera Chege, the entrepreneur behind the popular Wakalucy Fish Palace restaurant chain, has died at the age of 46 after a long battle with cervical cancer.
Her death was confirmed by friends, customers and fellow Kenyans on September 16, 2026. “Monica Waithera Chege, the entrepreneur behind Wakalucy Fish Palace, has died after a long battle with cancer,” said Lilian Millen, one of those who shared the news of her passing.
Monica, widely known as Wakalucy across Nairobi and beyond, was a single mother who is survived by three children, two daughters and a son, all of whom had been actively involved in the family business, helping run the chain’s various outlets alongside their mother.
She built Wakalucy Fish Palace into one of Nairobi’s most recognisable casual dining brands. The restaurant was known for its fresh fish, chicken, ugali and chips.
At its peak, the business operated multiple branches across Nairobi’s northern and eastern corridors. Its outlets included locations along Thika Road, the Eastern Bypass, Mwiki Road, Mirema Drive, Kamakis and Kiambu Road. It also operated associated outlets known as Wakalucy SNL and Wakalucy Burudani.
The business built a loyal following over the years, attracting customers with its fresh, reasonably priced seafood and grilled meat. Monica later operated the business formally under her own trading name. She had previously appeared before a Nairobi tribunal in a business-related dispute in 2022.
Beyond the food, tributes following her death pointed to Chege’s impact as an employer and her character as a person. “Wakalucy Fish Palace employed many people from different communities and gave them dignity through work,” said Paul Neko, who recalled meeting her at the Kasarani Car Wash Bar outlet. He remembered her warmly: “Always humble, soft-spoken, warm, friendly and deeply respectful to her customers.” Another well-wisher, Fadhili, echoed that sentiment, describing her as “the hardworking lady behind Wakalucy Fish Palace.”
Monica’s story reflects a broader pattern of small, self-built food businesses that have grown into multi-branch local institutions across Nairobi’s fast-expanding suburbs, often providing steady employment and affordable dining options in areas underserved by larger, more established restaurant chains.
Her death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from customers and members of the public who remember Wakalucy Fish Palace not just as a place to eat, but as a business that reflected the determination and hospitality of the woman who built it.
