The country witnessed a series of deaths of prominent personalities in 2023.
In this article, we take a look at politicians we said goodbye to over the last 12 months.
Kullow Maalim
Banissa Member of Parliament (MP) Kullow Maalim Hassan died on March 28, 2023, while undergoing treatment at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi.
Hassan had been admitted to the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after he was involved in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident near Capital Centre in South B, Nairobi, on March 25.
The second-term MP was first elected to Parliament in 2017 on an Economic Freedom Party (EFP) ticket. He later defended his seat in 2022 on a United Democratic Movement (UDM) ticket.
The late legislator is survived by three wives and 16 children.
Nelson Mahanga
Former Migori County Deputy Governor Nelson Mahanga died on September 9.
Mahanga’s family said the politician passed on at the MP Shah Hospital in Nairobi where he had been admitted for an undisclosed illness.
The deceased served as Deputy Governor for Migori County for two 5-year terms between 2013 and 2022 under former county boss Okoth Obado.
Lawrence Sifuna
The cruel hand of death claimed the life of former Bungoma South (presently Kanduyi and Bumula) MP Lawrence Sifuna on December 2.
The 77-year-old politician passed on while receiving treatment at an Eldoret hospital after suffering a stroke at home.
The deceased was first elected to parliament in 1979 and was re-elected in 1983 before losing the seat to former North Eastern Provincial Commissioner Maurice Makhanu in the 1988 General Election.
On the national stage, the deceased is remembered as one of the left-wing members of parliament in the 1980s (a.k.a. the seven bearded sisters) who persistently attacked AG Njonjo and government policies that clamped down on the basic human rights of Kenyans.
He championed the interests of Kenyans alongside Koigi wa Wamwere, James Orengo, Abuya Abuya, Chibule wa Tsuma, Onyango Midika, Mwashengu wa Mwachofi and Philomena Chelangat Mutai.
Godliver Omondi
Nominated Member of the Kakamega County Assembly Godliver Omondi died at Agha Khan Hospital Kisumu on November 13.
Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula said the MCA passed on while receiving treatment in the ICU.
“She was admitted to the ICU wing on Saturday after suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes but succumbed today (Monday) at 6 pm,” Savula said in a post on social media.
The ODM party member also served as a nominated senator between 2013 and 2017, representing Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
Michael Egialan
Lakezone MCA Michael Egialan Ekwar died on November 4 after batting Oesophagus cancer for more than a year.
Egialan’s death was confirmed by Turkana County Assembly Speaker Christopher Nakuleu.
“Mr Egialan had an operation three months ago but the cancer cells spread to other parts of his body. He lost the battle on November 4 while undergoing treatment at St Luke’s Hospital Eldoret,” Nakuleu told the media.
Elijah Osiemo
Nyamaiya Member of County Assembly Elijah Osiemo died on August 7 following a road accident along the Mai Mahiu-Narok Road.
The accident occurred after the driver of the car that was ferrying three Nyamira MCAs hit a motorcycle rider before losing control and landing in a ditch.
Osiemo died on the spot while his colleagues, Duke Masira and Priscilla Nyatichi survived the crash with injuries. The MCAs were rushed to Naivasha Level Four Hospital for emergency treatment.
Hamisi Idd
Similarly, Hamisi Iddi, the MCA for Chewani Ward in Tana River County, died in a road crash on the Malindi-Garsen road on June 17.
Iddi, who served as the minority leader in the County Assembly of Tana-River, was a first-term ward representative elected under a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket in last year’s general election.
The ruling party, in a statement, said Tana River residents lost a “focused and dedicated leader who put the interests of his people first”.
George Magoha
Though not a politician, it’s important to note the untimely demise of former Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha who died on January 24 aged 71.
A statement released by the family indicated that Magoha collapsed at home and was rushed to the Nairobi Hospital. Efforts by the hospital’s medics to resuscitate him were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at around 5:30 pm.
The late professor served as Education CS between March 2019 and October 2022. He was replaced by Ezekiel Machogu following the exit of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta from office and the inauguration of President William Ruto.
Magoha, a urologist by specialisation, passed on barely a month after he landed a job at Maseno University in Kisumu as the Professor of Surgery at the School of Medicine.
Before his appointment to Uhuru’s Cabinet, Magoha served as the chairman of the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), a role he assumed in 2016.
Magoha and former Education CS Fred Matiang’i are credited with reforms that curbed national examination cheating during their tenures.
The two instituted strict measures to ensure the integrity of the examination process, including the deployment of security personnel to examination centres, the use of technology to monitor exams, and the establishment of a more stringent system to oversee the examination process.
