Gusii leaders pay tribute to Nyamira Assembly Majority Leader Elijah Osiemo

Thousands of mourners follow proceedings during the burial of Nyamira Assembly Majority Leader Elijah Osiemo. [Facebook, Governor Amos Nyaribo]

Political leaders from Kisii and Nyamira counties Monday gathered at Nyamaiya grounds in Nyamira to pay their last respect to the late Assembly Majority Leader Elijah Osiemo.

Osiemo died two weeks ago in a tragic road accident along the Narok-Nairobi Highway. He was in the company of two other Members of the Nyamira County Assembly who survived with injuries.

Leaders attending the August 21 burial called on the Government to actualize its development plans for the region in honor of the late MCA.

Nyamira Assembly Speaker Enock Okero said it would take a long time to replace the late Osiemo. “We have always known that politics is all about push and pull, but no day have our MCAs ever exchanged with our Leader of Majority. He had exceptional qualities.”

He said: “I called him when he was dying, the phone was engaged. I tried several times. Eight minutes later, I got a call from an MCA who was in the company of the late. He confirmed to me that we had lost Osiemo.”

Okero said the late Majority Leader had plans to run as a Deputy Governor in 2027. "No amount of pages can tell Osiemo’s story. The time we wanted to read his story was cut short by the cruel hand of death.”

UPA Party Secretary Jacob Bagaka said the party had lost a young, and promising leader. “We have lost one of us; he was the eye of the party in Nyamira.”

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, Solicitor General Shadrack Mose and National Assembly Majority Chief Whip Sylvanus Osoro represented the Government.

President William Ruto, in his speech read by Machogu said the late Osiemo had the ability to read and articulate issues that affected the people of Nyamira.

A portrait of the late Nyamira Assembly Majority Leader Elijah Osiemo. [Facebook, Governor Amos Nyaribo]

“He was a role model to upcoming young leaders. He emerged as a winner and had a desire to bring about change. His death must not diminish our desire to bring about change.”

In his remarks, Machogu said the community had lost a strong and dedicated leader. “He had a bright political future. I had an opportunity to meet him and I can agree he had wisdom. We have lost a leader who had the ability to unite his people.”

Machogu said his Ministry will allocate resources to two schools; Gitari Primary and Secondary, institutions that neighbor the late Osiemo’s home as an honor to his contribution to the society.

“We met severally, and all he was telling me is how to ensure that we had uplifted the lives of our people. We will implement a number of projects that he had requested from my Ministry.”

The CS announced the release of Sh 1.6 billion to benefit more than 69 schools in Nyamira County.

Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo and his Kisii counterpart Simba Arati said the community had lost a young and vibrant leader.

The two leaders agreed to work together for the betterment of the community, adding that the two counties shared common resources and boundaries.

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka called on the community to support Education CS Machogu. “We are not ready for petty politics. We have gathered here to mourn a departed hero, let us use this occasion to make a decision on how to move forward as a community. Our people want us to come together.”

West Mugirango MP Steve Mogaka said he will follow up on projects that had been promised by the Government in honor of the late Osiemo.

“We have had a befitting send-off of our leader, a man who respected all his colleagues.”