Deputy President William Ruto on Wednesday, September 25, took to Twitter to mourn a long-time friend.
The DP praised Mzee Daniel Ole Muyaa as a fierce champion of the rights of minority groups.
"Mzee Ole Muyaa made invaluable contributions to their advancement, especially in education and representation. He advocated peace, cohesion and harmonious relationships among communities. Rest In Peace.
"Condolences to the family, friends and the Maa community for the loss of Mzee Daniel Ole Muyaa, a respected and influential community leader," he stated.
President Uhuru Kenyatta also sent a message of condolence and comfort to the family, relatives and friends of Mzee Daniel Kasirimo Ole Muyaa who died today at his home after a long illness.
Mzee Daniel Ole Muyaa, 74, was a prominent Maasai community elder and a veteran civic leader in Kajiado who served for a long time as the chairman of Olkejuado County Council.
In his message, the President said the late Mzee Ole Muyaa will be remembered as a patriotic leader who stood firm and fought relentlessly and successfully for the rights of ordinary Kenyans.
"Mzee Ole Muyaa was a man of the people. He was an ardent fighter for the rights and the welfare of wananchi. It was due to his leadership skills that he was able to serve for a long period as the chairman of Olkejuado County Council and the chairman of the then Association of Local Government Authorities," the President stated.
In July, DP Ruto and his allies dismissed reports by The Standard that President Uhuru Kenyatta had snubbed him at JKIA as he was visiting Mzee Ole Muyaa in Kajiado at the time.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Murkomen stated, "Yesterday after a public function at Nyandarua DP proceeded to visit his friend Mzee Ole Muyaa in Kajiado. Around 6:30 pm he left Kajiado for Nairobi. Meanwhile, Uhuru Kenyatta jetted back at around 5pm."
Mr Daniel "Kibwezi" ole Muyaa was born in 1944 in Kiu village in Mashuru division, Kajiado District. He attended Kiu Primary School, where he did the Common Entrance Examination, before enrolling with the National Youth Service.
Between 1961 and 1981, he worked as a storekeeper with the Ministry of Agriculture, until he resigned on being nominated a councillor in the Mavoko Urban Council (Athi River), Machakos District.
In 1983, Mr Muyaa captured the Kitengela Ward in Kajiado in a by-election occasioned by his election petition.
When Prof George Saitoti plunged into active politics by vying for the Kajiado North seat in 1988, one of the civic leaders enlisted to help run his campaign machinery was Mr Muyaa.
He was a loyal Saitoti supporter but later turned to a fierce critic.
