Former Juja Member of Parliament George Thuo is dead

Former President Mwai Kibaki with the late MP George Thuo at a past function: (PHOTO: FILE)

By Cyrus Ombati

NAIROBI, KENYA: Former Juja MP George Thuo is dead.

Friends and relatives say Thuo died on Sunday night after he collapsed while having drinks with friends at a club in Thika town at about 10 pm. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The friends who were with him at that time said he was in good health and had not complained of any sickness.

The late legislature collapsed at a club in Thika town while watching Formula one sport. He started to sweat and removed clothes before he went down.

He was rushed to Thika Nursing Home but were unable to resuscitate him, an ambulance was called from Nairobi to take him to Aga Khan Hospital where doctors said  he had died.

"The body was later moved to the Lee Funeral Home," Police say.

Thuo was one of the original owners of City Hoppa public service vehicles. He was also once the managing director of the defunct Kenya Bus Service PSVs and later Stagecoach buses.

He was first elected as an MP in the 2007 elections on a Party of National Unity (PNU) ticket to represent Juja Constituency.

He also served as the then Government Chief Whip.

In April 2010 he lost the parliamentary seat after a court nullified the 2007 election results of Juja Constituency citing irregularities.

A by-election was subsequently held on September 20, 2010, but Thuo was left third after William Kabogo (NARC-Kenya) and Alice Wambui of Kenya National Congress.

Many have mourned his death.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga said: “My condolences to the family, friends and indeed the people of Juja and Kenya at large following the untimely demise of Hon George Thuo.”