By Onesmus Nzioka
MAKUENI; KENYA: Members of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and residents of Makueni County held street demonstrations on Monday to mourn their fallen senator Mutula Kilonzo.
Hundreds of residents led by their members of the county assembly thronged streets of Wote town; the county headquarter, to express their grief over the mysterious death of their senator.
Business came to a standstill in the usually busy town as the march snaked through the town’s roads bringing traffic to a halt and later on converged at the bus park.
At the bus park where speeches were delivered, wails rent the air with others breaking down as they gave an account of their last moments with the late senator and the huge dreams for Makueni County that he took to the grave with him.
Members of the County Assembly led by Francis Mutungi and Samson Vaati called for a quick and transparent investigation into what killed the man they had so much hope in, to help actualise devolution as envisaged by the 2010 Constitution.
“We want the government to carry a thorough investigation in to the death of Mutula because we will not take anything other than the truth. We, the people of Makueni will not accept shoddy investigation as witnessed in the past in similar cases and the government should know we are watching,” said Mr Vaati.
The members said Mutula had promised to help them in formulating the necessary policies and laws at the county level that would see the county pull itself from poverty to a model county.
He had also, according to them, promised to use his wide international and local connections to woo investors into the county to create jobs for the youth, improve infrastructure, wealth creation and equal rights for all.
Makueni County Kuppet executive secretary Justus Kimeu said the education sector has lost a man who had brought tremendous changes in the education docket within the short stint he was minister.
Kimeu said Mutula had promised to carry on with the transformation process in the education sector to align it with the changing trends and also place the country in the path towards industrialization and ascendance to a middle income country.
He said the Basic Education Act 2013 that the late former education minister helped prepare is a true testimony of Mutula’s urge to ensure quality education for all and the love he had for his country.
Nzaui/Mukaa districts Kenya National Union of Teachers vice Chairman Daniel Wambua described Mutula as a man who had brought a life to the education ministry with his zeal to fight for the rights of both teachers and the learners.
“Mutula is a man who paid a keen attention to all stake holders in the ministry. He was ready to ensure the interests of teachers, pupils and the Teachers Service Commission are all balanced. We will surely miss him and hope the new cabinet secretary will fit into his shoes,” said Wambua.
They described the late senator as a very humble person who was ready to mingle even with the lowly despite his kingly stature.
