Laikipia Senator G.G Kariuki dead
Laikipia Senator G.G. Kariuki. He was the only serving lawmaker who had also served in the first Parliament after Kenya’s independence in 1963. FILE PHOTO |
Veteran politician and Laikipia Senator Godfrey Gitahi Kariuki is dead.
Mr Kariuki passed on at a Nairobi hospital aged 78 on Friday morning.
THE NEWS
The news of his death was broken by one of his colleagues attending a meeting with editors in Mombasa.
The lawmaker confirmed he had spoken to Mr Kariuki’s son.
Deputy Senate Speaker Kembi Gitura confirmed the death of the senator and sent condolences on behalf of the House.
Mr Kariuki was a veteran politician and the oldest senator of the 11th Parliament.
The senator, who joined politics in 1959, served in the governments of President Daniel Arap Moi and founding President Jomo Kenyatta.
LAST APPEARANCE
He was the only serving lawmaker who had also served in the first Parliament after Kenya’s independence in 1963.
His last public appearance was in late Nyahururu when Deputy President William Ruto visited and presided over the handover of cheques to dairy farmers who had shares in the Kenya Cooperative Creameries before it went under.
It was also his first and only public appearance after he had made it official that he was going to defend his seat in the August 8 General Election.
He was set to face off with former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga, Simon Mithamo, Laikipia County Kuppet branch executive secretary Ndung'u Wangenye and Mr Mururi King’ori.
HECKLED
The senator, who appeared frail and struggled to rise from his seat, was among politicians who were heckled by youths who were chanting pro-Njenga praises when he was invited to address the meeting.
He had declined to be assisted to stand but did not manage to walk to the dais, addressing the meeting in his seat.
The seemingly angry senator said: “You can hear them shouting me down only because they have been promised a plate of food. They would still get that plate of food if they choose to stay mum. They have been brought here to show that I have no supporters.”
The senator had added: “I am the senior most politician here and no one is of my age. I might be looking old and frail but the elephant is still there and standing strong. Kwa hivyo mtu asije akatuletea bangi zake hapa (So don't bring your bhang madness here)”.
