Baringo South MP Grace Kipchoim dies in Nairobi
What you need to know:
Ms Kipchoim, who was elected on a Jubilee Party ticket, served for only one year before she was taken ill in 2014.
She was diagnosed with colon of cancer that was discovered at stage four and she underwent at least five operations in and outside Kenya.
As appreciation for her development track record, Ms Kipchoim was re-elected in the August 8, 2017 election despite not conducting a single campaign.
Baringo South MP Grace Kipchoim has died after a long battle with colon cancer.
Ms Kipchoim, who was serving her second term in Parliament, passed on at The Nairobi Hospital on Friday morning.
OPERATIONS
"It's true we've lost her. We convey our condolences to her family, "said Baringo North MP William Cheptumo.
Ms Kipchoim, who was elected on a Jubilee Party ticket, served for only one year before she was taken ill in 2014.
She was diagnosed with colon of cancer that was discovered at stage four and she underwent at least five operations in and outside Kenya.
Baringo South MP Grace Kipchoim (second left) and local leaders during a security meeting in Mogotio on June 21, 2014. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
As appreciation for her development track record, Ms Kipchoim was re-elected in the August 8, 2017 election despite not conducting a single campaign.
Leaders from the region on Friday condoled with Ms Kipchoim's family, describing her as an astute leader.
Baringo Senator Gideon Moi said the late MP passionately pursued the interest of the people even while facing personal challenges.
"Grace, as a leader, had the nerves of steel— always fighting for her people fearlessly to address the issue of insecurity, which over the years has troubled her people," Mr Moi said in his condolence message sent to newsrooms.
"May God give the family, friends and the people of Baringo South, whom she represented, necessary fortitude to bear the loss.”
PEACE MAKER
Ms Kipchoim, from the minority Endorois community, garnered 9,299 votes against her closest competitor, Kanu's Charles Kamuren, who managed 8,905 votes in the 2017 election.
She also did not cast her vote during Jubilee Party nominations held in April as she was bed-ridden.
She still clinched the party's ticket after garnering 8,149 votes against her closest opponent, Mark Kiptoo Kebenei, who got 4,253.
Ms Kipchoim was in the forefront in preaching peaceful coexistence between the warring Pokot and Tugen communities.
“She has done a lot to ensure that peace is restored in the region. In fact she should consider going for the county women representative seat in the future,” said Nicholas Koros, a Baringo County resident, told the Nation last year.
She also led the war on outdated cultural practices, including cattle rustling and female genital mutilation among pastoralist communities in the region.
Born on January 3, 1962, Ms Kipchoim is a Kenya College of Accountancy (KCA) University graduate.
She has in the past served as the secretary, Baringo Central Constituency Development Fund.
