Kibra MP Ken Okoth is dead.
Okoth,41, died at Nairobi Hospital’s ICU on Thursday night, just two weeks after he made his first public appearance at Moi Girls School, Nairobi, after being away in France for five months seeking treatment.
The second term ODM legislator was suffering from colorectal cancer.
Okoth went public in March, saying he was battling stage four cancer and oozed confidence he would survive.
“I was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer with metastases to the liver,” the MP said.
“I will be using chemotherapy tablets every morning. Because my disease was discovered at a very advanced stage, it cannot be cured. It can only be managed.”
Colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer and colon cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine), according to Wikipedia.
“We regret to have lost Hon. Kenneth Okoth, the MP for Kibra today. It is sad news to the nation, our party, the people of Kibra and Nairobi County. Cancer has once again snatched Kenya a vibrant and charismatic leader who worked tirelessly to transform the lives of his people,” ODM, his party, tweeted.
In April, the MP was forced to post on Twitter, denying ‘outrageous rumours’ that were doing rounds on social media that he was dead.
Okoth said the doctors were treating ulcer symptoms and bacterial infections before he was diagnosed with cancer. He was experiencing abdominal pain and weight loss.
Okoth was popular for his education agenda, as he built and equipped schools in his constituency using the NG-CDF.
Okoth was born in Kibera, one of Africa’s oldest slums, dating back to the early 20th century, and a stronghold of the opposition. He, however, went on to study at St Lawrence University, USA, – German and European Studies, and was also a graduate, Master’s in International Relations from Georgetown University.
In the 2013 election, he beat six other candidates to win the Lang’ata constituency seat.
He was vocal in the push for the legalization of marijuana in the country and described himself as an educator and humanist.
