Alice Maitha, widow of the late Tourism minister Karisa Maitha is dead.
The deceased died on Tuesday at the Coast General Hospital aged 53.
She was one of the three widows of the late Kisauni MP and leaves behind two children; Mwaka Karisa and Benta Bahati Karisa.
[caption caption="The Late Alice Maitha"]
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Karisa Maitha died of a suspected heart attack in 2004 during an official trip to Germany to market Kenya as a tourist destination.
The Minister passed on shortly after being rushed to the Geist Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany, where doctors attempted to administer artificial heart resuscitation.
Maitha was diagnosed with a heart ailment in 1997 after serving a short-term in captivity over incitement charges, according to family sources.
He is remembered as a leader who rose from a little-known civic leader in Kisauni in the 1970s to a powerful political point-man at the coast and an influential cabinet minister in the Kibaki government.
Maitha joined hands with Kibaki, then a staunch opposition politics adherent, to launch the Democratic Party (DP) in 1992.
He was also praised for his ability to unite people. According to the Mijikenda customs, a polygamist may either have all his wives in one house, and risk constant squabbles among them and children, or build a home for each and her children.
A report by the Nation notes that the former minister opted for one house at his Majaoni home for the three wives, but with each having her own room.
Mugogo (the great one), as he came to be known among his people, proved that unity in polygamy is possible.
A close family member states Mr Maitha loved all his wives and children without discrimination.
[caption caption="The Late Karisa Maitha"]
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