Makueni County loses another politician

By Onesmus Nzioka

Makueni County has suffered another blow after losing another politician barely a month and half after the death of its Senator Mutula Kilonzo.

On Sunday, the county assembly lost one of its members, Joel Mutinda Kioko, who passed away at the Kijabe Mission hospital while undergoing treatment.

A brother-in-law to the deceased, Gerrison Mutua, said the Ilima ward representative was hospitalized last Wednesday with a kidney ailment but died on Sunday after developing breathing problems.

He added that the deceased had undergone a stomach surgery at the Coptic hospital, Nairobi, in December 2012, but on Wednesday fell ill and was rushed to Kijabe Mission hospital for specialized treatment.

Mutua said doctors at the hospital said the deceased died from breathing problems due to kidney failure.

Makueni assembly speaker Stephen Ngelu said Kioko’s death is a big blow to the county that is just smarting from the death of its senator Mutula Kilonzo.

"It is very unfortunate that we have to lose one of us who was dedicated to serve his people but did not get the opportunity. This is the worst time to lose one of us, when we are still mourning our departed senator," he said.

Ngelu said the deceased has been missing most of the house sittings due to his illness, and that he was even sworn in while ill.

The speaker condoled with the family of the deceased saying the county will stand by them at this hard moment in their lives.