Veteran Kitui politician Eliud Ngala Mwendwa laid to rest
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka during the funeral service for veteran Kitui politician Eliud Ngala Mwendwa in Ithookwe, Kitui Central, Kirui county. The late Mwendwa was laid to rest on June 18, 2016. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The deceased, a brother to the first African Chief Justice in independent Kenya Kitili Mwendwa, had been battling with old age complications for years.
- He was staying with his family after retiring from active politics.
- He worked as a teacher before he was elected to the Legislative Council (LegCo) to represent Kitui after Kenya attained independence in 1963.
- He also served as Minister for Labour and Social Services in Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s first cabinet.
Former Cabinet Minister for Labour and veteran Kitui politician Eliud Ngala Mwendwa was Saturday laid to rest at his Ithookwe home in Kitui Central Constituency, Kitui County.
The 93-year-old son of a one-time paramount chief Mwendwa Kitavi, who bestrode Kitui politics in his prime days, passed away on June 8, 2016 at Nairobi Hospital’s ICU unit where he was undergoing treatment after suffering a heart attack.
The deceased, a brother to the first African Chief Justice in independent Kenya Kitili Mwendwa, had been battling with old age complications for years.
He was staying with his family after retiring from active politics.
In an epic funeral ceremony held on Saturday at Ithookwe Showground and attended by thousands of mourners from Kitui County and beyond, Mr Mwendwa was eulogised as a generous, witty, humorous and honest politician who has left an indelible mark in Kenya’s political arena.
The funeral ceremony was presided over by Bishop Silas Yego of the African Inland Church (AIC).
LEADERS EULOGISE MWENDWA
Those in attendance included Cord co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang'ula, Health CS Cleopa Mailu, Deputy State House Chief of Staff and head of Public Service Nzioka Waita, Kitui Governor Julius Malombe, Nairobi Deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke, Kitui Senator David Musila and former Lands CS Charity Ngilu.
Others were women reps Nyiva Mwendwa (Kitui) and Dr Susan Musyoka (Machakos), Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga.
The leaders were, however, asked to refrain from politics during the funeral.
The late Mwendwa’s widow Mrs Priscilla Kavutha Mwendwa eulogised him as a loving family man who lived a full life in every aspect.
Mr Musyoka said that in Ngala’s death, the people of Kitui County and Kenya at large had lost a foremost son, hero, statesman and a steadfast political leader who served the people with zeal and commitment.
Mr Wetang'ula, on the other hand, remembered him as a person of great strength, unshakable courage, resolute determination and absolute perseverance.
The late Mwendwa worked as a teacher before he was elected to the Legislative Council (LegCo) to represent Kitui after Kenya attained independence in 1963.
He later served as Member of Parliament for Kitui West constituency.
In 1969, he moved his political base to Kitui Central Constituency where he served as the MP until 1974 when he lost to former Information and Broadcasting Minister Daniel Mutinda.
He also served as Minister for Labour and Social Services in Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s first cabinet.
