Banissa Member of Parliament (MP), Kullow Maalim, passed away on Wednesday, March 29.
Maalim died while receiving treatment at the Aga Khan University Hospital after sustaining injuries from a hit-and-run accident along Mombasa Road.
According to family members, the MP was knocked down by a motorcycle rider on March 25 who fled the scene.
Family members of the late Maalim confirmed that he will be buried at 4 p.m. at the Lang'ata Muslim Cemetry in accordance with Islamic traditions.
President William Ruto condoled the residents of the Banissa constituency for losing their leader.
"I extend my condolences to the family, colleagues, and friends. We have lost a dedicated public servant and a passionate advocate for the people and interests of Mandera County as a whole," Ruto eulogised.
The legislator was the first member of the 13th Parliament to die in office. His colleagues, Hussein Weytan of Manera East and Kinwezi West lawmaker Mwengi Mutuse mourned him.
"May Allah have mercy on him, forgive his shortcomings, and admit him to Jannah. May Allah give strength and patience to his family, friends, and his constituents to bear the loss. Amen," Weytan remarked.
"For the last few months, I have been serving with Hon. Kulow in the Public Accounts Committee where we were beginning to bond very well. Hon. Kulow was a good person and particularly dedicated to his oversight as well as other parliamentary duties," Mutuse wrote.
Maalim was serving in his second term in office. He was first elected to the National Assembly in 2017 on an Economic Freedom Party (EFP) ticket.
During his first term, he served in the Departmental Committee on Transport, Public Works, and Housing. In 2022, he was confirmed as a member of the Public Accounts Committee.
Before joining active politics, he served as a board of directors member at the Kenya Airports Authority between 2013 and 2015.
Maalim was a project coordinator at the Arid Regional Integrated Agency for 13 years. A teacher by profession, he taught at Wajir High School before he was appointed Deputy Principal at Sheikh Ali School in Ramu.
In 1990, he was appointed a lecturer at Kigari Teachers Training College in Embu, where he served for two years.
The lawmaker graduated with a Bachelor of Education from Kenyatta University and holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy.
