Laikipia Senator G.G Kariuki Dies

Laikipia Senator Godfrey Gitahi Kariuki has passed on.

Mr Kariuki died shortly after 11 pm on Thursday night at Nairobi Hospital aged 79.

Confirming the news, a family member revealed that the veteran politician was rushed to hospital last week with health complications.

The same was affirmed by a number of legislators including Deputy Senate Speaker Kembi Gitura who sent their condolence messages to his family.

President Uhuru Kenyatta mourned the Senator as a pragmatic leader who immensely contributed to the liberation and growth of Kenya.

“The contribution of the late Senator G.G Kariuki will forever be engrained in our minds and history books. As a young leader during independence, he played a key in resolving land conflicts

and the resettlement of squatters, particularly in Laikipia, as well as standing for the rights of all Kenyans where he felt they were being trampled by those in authority, “ stated President Kenyatta.

He added that Senator Kariuki not only played a major role in the struggle for independence but was also a key player in the growth of democracy in Kenya.

“He was also at the centre of second liberation together with other leaders who championed for true democracy in our country. As a nation we are truly indebted to him and other founding fathers of our nation,” said the President.

Kariuki, who was the oldest member in the 11th Parliament, joined politics in 1959 and was elected to the National Assembly in 1963.

The Senator formerly served as Laikipia West MP and a Cabinet Minister in President Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Moi's administrations.

He first served as Minister for Internal Security and Provincial Administration until 1983 when he was moved to the Lands, Settlement and Physical Planning Department.

 

 

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