Deaths of politicians that shocked Kenya

The Range Rover vehicle that the late Mutula Kilonzo, the first Makueni Senator, drove to his Maanzoni Ranch in the evening before he was found dead on April 27, 2013. Several months later after he died under unclear circumstances, uncertainty continues to mar the release of a report on his death. PHOTO/FILE 

In Summary

• Perhaps the most prominent and contentious death in the country was that of first Makueni Senator, Mr Mutula Kilonzo.
• The late Senator was found dead at his home after driving himself from Nairobi.
• In February, the nation had lost another prominent but controversial politician turned civil servant; former Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) chairman Samuel Mutua Kivuitu.

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By SAMUEL KARANJA
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The year 2013 will go down memory lane as one in which prominent politicians died, albeit some under controversial circumstances.

Perhaps the most prominent and contentious death in the country was that of first Makueni Senator, Mr Mutula Kilonzo.

The renowned lawyer and former Cabinet minister was found dead at his ranch in Maanzoni, Machakos County, on April 27.

And several months later after he died under unclear circumstances, uncertainty continues to mar the release of a report on his death.

Tuesday, a source confirmed a parallel toxicological report on body samples conducted in the UK on request by Mutula’s family had long been forwarded to the CID which has been ‘reluctant’ to share it with other State agencies including the government pathologist.

The late Senator was found dead at his home after driving himself from Nairobi.

He had vomited in a projectile manner, according to investigators.

An autopsy conducted in Nairobi revealed the 64-year old politician had massive internal bleeding without damages to his organs.

Investigators have been pursuing the possibility of a homicide, induced suicide or an accidental poisonous bite.

A further presence of undisclosed medicinal substances has also been reported, compounding the investigations further.

Another doctor conversant with the issue said initial investigations from 100 samples from various parts of Mr Kilonzo’s body tested at the government chemist in Nairobi had shown no signs of poisoning.

However, he said more tests were conducted after discovery of traces of two drugs in the blood.

He said the developments resulted in hair samples being taken for tests to rule out poisoning.

Dr Ian Calder from the UK was retained by the Senator’s family to conduct the parallel analysis and reportedly submitted his findings to the police in mid-July.

The government pathologist initially said his report was ready but was awaiting his counterpart’s findings before he could compile a final one and hand it over to the investigators.
Police have so far questioned five people amongst them a cook, farmhand, farm manager, and a butcher who sold him meat before he died.

Initially, investigations were zeroing in on a possible heart attack before the likelihood of the presence of a deadly toxin was discovered and further analysis called for.

The late senior counsel was buried in Mbooni, Makueni County on May 9.

When he served as minister for Education, he was on record for having controversially pushed for school girls not to be forced to dress ‘like nuns’.

In February, the nation had lost another prominent but controversial politician turned civil servant; former Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) chairman Samuel Mutua Kivuitu.

Mr Kivuitu died on February 25 of throat cancer while undergoing treatment at the MP Shah Hospital in Nairobi.

He was aged 74 years.

Mr Kivuitu served as MP for Parklands from 1969-74 and 1983-88, before his appointment to the ECK where he over-saw General Elections in 1997, 2002, as well as a constitutional referendum in 2005.

As chairman of the defunct ECK, Mr Kivuitu presided over the disputed 2007 General Election.

The disputed poll led to the post-election violence in which 1,133 people were killed and 650,000 displaced.

On July 8, Kenya lost another fiery politician; former Eldoret North MP and the first Nandi woman lawmaker, Ms Philomena Chelagat Mutai. She died of a heart attack in a Nairobi hospital aged 64 years.

Youngest MP

Born at Terige village in Lessos, Nandi County, Ms Mutai, a political scientist, became the youngest MP ever in 1974—at only 24 years-old and rose to public fame when the then Attorney-General Charles Njonjo named her as one of the “seven bearded sisters” in reference to a group whose fiery debates in Parliament gave the Kanu government sleepless nights.

November 17 also saw another death, that of former Juja MP and former government Chief Whip George Thuo.

The politician and businessman lost consciousness at a Thika pub and was pronounced dead on arrival at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi.

The curtains also fell on former freedom fighter and long-time Nyeri MP, Mr Waruru Kanja, who died on December 17 aged 83 years.