Former minister Ngala Mwendwa dies in city

Former Cabinet Minister Eliud Ngala Mwendwa

Former Cabinet Minister Eliud Ngala Mwendwa is dead.

The 94-year old former Minister for Labour in the independence Cabinet of President Jomo Kenyatta died at the Nairobi Hospital yesterday.

His son, Kitavi Ngala, said Mzee Mwendwa had been admitted at the hospital for five days.

"Mzee was transferred from Kitui County Referral Hospital five days ago," he said.

Mr Mwendwa participated in the Lancaster House talks that yielded the country's independence Constitution and self-rule.

Mwendwa was part of the 15-member first independence Cabinet at independence in 1963 under senior Kenyatta.

He served as Kitui Central MP in 1963-1969 during the one Kanu party system. Kitui Senator David Musila eulogised with the family saying the former minister made huge contributions to the development of Kitui County in particular and Kenya in general as a teacher and a politician.

The senator said Mwendwa was a freedom fighter who championed for the rights of all. "I have learnt of the death of Mwendwa with great sorrow. May his soul rest in eternal peace," said Mr Musila.