Former Mumias Member of Parliament (MP) and influential Western Kenya politician Francis Makwanalo Obongita passed on Thursday morning at the age of 85.
Obongita, who was diagnosed with Diabetes, succumbed to the disease while undergoing treatment at Aga Khan hospital in Kisumu.
He ventured into politics in 1963 and served as the minister for local government and administration under the government of the late President Jomo Kenyatta.
Obongita served as Mumias MP for two terms, leaving office in 1978.
The deceased who died at 85 years will be remembered for championing Luhya unity.
After quitting elective politics, he remained active in national issues and campaigned for the new Constitution in 2010.
When the new Constitution was passed, he congratulated Kenyans and urged the County Governments to implement devolution to benefit voters.
Obongita also served in the military and was the third MP for the then Mumias Constituency after Ibrahim Mulama and John Washika.
The deceased will be laid to rest at a later date in Malaha village, Kakamega county.
