The MP for Msambweni, Suleiman Dori passed away at 5 a.m on Monday, March 9, while receiving cancer treatment at the Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa.
In an interview with the Standard in 2017, the recently departed MP divulged how he had found himself in an elective office despite his difficult beginnings.
Dori, who came from Kwale county was the last born in a home of 11 children: eight sisters and three brothers. His father was a driver while his mother sold different commodities to keep the family clothed and fed.
"My father was a driver, while my mother did odd jobs to make ends meet. My mother used to sell shark fish pieces, charcoal, tea leaves and mabuyu to raise money for food and school fees. All we knew was poverty, poverty and more poverty!" stated Dori.
The recently departed member of parliament who studied at Gazi Primary school, detailed how he was forced to fend for himself by selling mabuyu to supplement the family's income.
Dori later dropped out of Waa High School where he had been admitted when he was in form 3.
"I was admitted at Waa High School. My parents couldn’t afford my school fee and hence, I was forced to be a day scholar, which meant walking almost 20 kilometres daily. On a good day, I would cling onto my cousin’s matatu for a free ride to and from school. I always arrived in school at around 4.30am and waited for the other students. In the evening, I would wait for the same vehicle to hike a lift back home. In form three, I dropped out and went to live with my elder sister in Mombasa," Dori told the interviewers.
According to his own recounting, Dori held a number of menial jobs that included selling charcoal and firewood to provide for his family.
Dori moved to Nairobi in 2001 where he signed up for a diploma in community development at the YMCA College. He joined politics in 2013 when he run for the Msambweni parliamenatry seat on an ODM ticket.
ODM leader Raila Odonga led leaders in mourning Suleiman Dori.
“My heartfelt condolences go out to the people of Msambweni and family of Ramadhani Suleiman Dori who passed on this morning. May the Lord grant his family comfort at this difficult moment and may his soul rest in peace," stated the former premier through his twitter handle.
Mombasa governor Ali joho also joined the family in grieving Suleiman posting on his social media handle, "May the Almighty assuage our grief. We have lost a true son of the nation and an ardent defender of the people of Msambweni and coast region at large."
Dori will be laid to rest on Monday, March 9 at 4.00 p.m in his home in Ghazi, Msambweni Constituency, Kwale County.
