Oprong dies with bullet lodged in head for 26 years

Oduya Oprong when he was being assisted by his son Isaac to sit while receiving treatment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH). His health had been deteriorating due to the bullet lodged in his head for over 21 years. He has developed High Blood Pressure. The former Busia North and two time Assistant Minister during former president Daniel Moi era was also facing financial challenges. [File, Standard]

Former Amagoro Member of Parliament Fredrick Oduya Oprong is dead. He died on Saturday in Nairobi.

The deceased’s sons Isaac and Joel confirmed to The Standard that Oprong died while in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).

The 83-year-old Oprong has been sick for over 20 years since the botched 1993 assassination attack that left him with two bullets logged in his head.

Oprong, a former assistant minister for Economic Planning and National Development was attacked by unknown people who shot him while driving home in the evening in Mariakani Estate.

Doctors managed to successfully remove one bullet but could not touch the one that was behind Oprong's brain as that would have put his life at risk.

Until his death, the former lawmaker has been walking with the bullet in his head. His family has taken him to different hospitals for specialized treatment but the bullet could not be removed.

“Mzee has been sick for many years because of the incident that happened when he was serving as MP for Amagoro then. He developed some chest complications when we took him to the hospital where he died,” said Joel.

Pamela Oduya, the deceased's daughter said her father developed some breathing problem while at the KNH prompting doctors to refer him to the ICU.

Governor Sospeter Ojaamong was among the first leaders who sent their condolences to the family of departed leader.

He eulogized Oprong as a true trade unionist who meant well for the workers, forming Kenya Mines, Quarry and Workers Union which he led as the Secretary General at independence.  

Ojaamong said the deceased contributed immensely to politics of Busia. “Before he became an MP he fought for the rights of the workers, he wanted workers paid well,” said Ojaamong.

The governor said there was need for the national government to come up with plans to help former MPs and civil leaders who are languishing in poverty.

“For the period of time Oprong has been sick there is nothing big the national government did to help him and the family,” said Ojaamong.

He said the county government was in touch with the family of Oprong with view of ensuring he is given descent send off.

Teso North MP Oku Kaunya said Teso Community has lost a person who played a big role in fighting for the rights of workers.

In 2015 he suffered stroke. The family tried to take him to various hospitals for medication but the cost was unbearable.

This prompted Kennedy Epalat, a resident of Amagoro to petition the county assembly of Busia to formulate a law requiring the executive to create a kitty for former MPs.

Mr Epalat wanted former legislators including Oprong to draw monthly of Sh200,000 and have access to a health insurance cover.

The petition was dismissed by Clerk Allan Mabuka arguing that the petitioner should have petitioned the National Assembly not county assembly.

Epalat then approached Nambale MP Sakwa Bunyasi to take to the matter to the National Assembly. In 2015, Oprong was admitted to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret where, without insurance, he accumulated a huge medical bill that the family struggled to pay. This prompted Deputy President William Ruto to come to his rescue and he settled the bill.

Oduya was a close ally of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Leader Raila Odinga. In 2015, Odinga visited the ailing former legislator where he accused the Jubilee government of neglecting Oprong.

The former premier decried the type of life Oprong was living. Oprong was among the politicians joined the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga to push for the release of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta from detention.

His closeness with Jomo Kenyatta enabled him win the Amagoro in 1963. He was among the 11 MPs who survived by election in 1966 during the mass defection to  Jaramogi Odinga's Kenya People's Union.

In 1969 he was defeated by Ojamaa Ojaamong who served for a short stint before his death in a road accident. Emoto Ebu won the by election.

In 1974 Oprong bounced back this time riding on a KANU and served up-to 1979 when he lost to Achiya Echakara.

Echakara was gunned down in 1987 by assailants when he was serving as Assistant Minister for Finance and Economic Planning during his second term.

When the mini poll was conducted, Pancras Otwani won and took over from Echakara. In 1992 elections Oprong won. It is during this time when he was serving as MP that he was attacked.

Albert Ekirapa defeated him in the subsequent polls. Ekirapa was later defeated by Sospeter Ojaamong in 2002 to 2013 before Amagoro was divided into two and gave birth to Teso North and Teso South with Arthur Odera and Mary Emaase pioneer MPs respectively.