Baringo South MP Grace Kipchoim Dies

Baringo South Member of Parliament Grace Kipchoim passed away on Friday morning.

The Jubilee Party MP was elected while in hospital with confirmed reports indicating that she was receiving treatment for cancer since 2014.

At the time of her passing, Ms Kipchoim had been placed under palliative care at the Nairobi Hospital.

The female MP was a widow, a situation that some of her political opponents used to malign her name.

[caption caption="File image of Baringo South MP Grace Kipchoim after winning court case"][/caption]

"It hit me by surprise as my opponents used various forums to fight me, claiming I am a 'bad omen' to the community because I am a widow," she conveyed after winning the seat in 2017.

The MP had been bed-ridden for most of the 2017 election year and was not able to conduct campaigns nor cast her vote for the Jubilee primaries and the MP election.

"My political journey has not been easy, amid illness. This is God's making. He makes things work for our good. I am thankful to the electorate for making me proud once more," she said at the time of her victory.

She was passionate about peace efforts for her constituents who have experienced cross-border clashes through the years.

"My joy is to see my people get back to their homes and be able to take their children to school without fear," she pledged in 2017.

Her Baringo North counterpart William Cheptumo was among the first to convey his condolences stating: "This is very sad. We convey our condolences to her family."

[caption caption="The deceased Grace Kipchoim shaking hands with President Uhuru in July 2017"][/caption]

UPDATES:

9:19 a. m: This story was updated to add details of the deceased MP's treatment.

9:45 a. m: The story was updated to add a condolence message from Baringo North MP William Cheptumo.

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