Former Cabinet minister and one-time Chepalungu MP John Koech ( Photo Courtesy)
He enjoyed a successful career as educationist before plunging into the world of politics in 1974 when he vied for Chepalungu MP seat but lost.
But five years later, John Koech finally wrestled the Chepalungu MP seat. He would go on to create a period of dominance in South Rift region politics.
Appointed to the cabinet by the then President Daniel Arap Moi, Koech became one of KANU point men in the region. But things would later change suddenly.
There was a period of tension between Moi and Koech. Their relationship went from bad to worse when the minister was blocked from meeting the President at State House.
Infuriated and feeling humiliated, Koech decided to resign from cabinet. He penned his resignation letter and handed it to the media for publication.
However, after a long night, Koech’s resignation would only remain on paper after being forced to change his mind and retract the resignation letter. Moi had acted. And just like that, the minister remained in cabinet.
Koech would later become Isaac Ruto’s biggest rival in Chepalungu. And in 1997, the fresh-faced Ruto ousted the former cabinet minister.
But Koech would bounce back in 2002 when he sent home Ruto. In 2006, he was appointed by the then President Mwai Kibaki to the cabinet as East Africa Legislative minister.
However, his best days as a politician were almost over. And so, in 2007, he was once again ousted by Ruto. Since then, he has never recovered.
At 77 years, he is enjoying the sunset years of his life, feeling convinced that he contributed to nation building.
Content created and supplied by: LarryKatana (via Opera
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