Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachugua has died in London where he was receiving treatment.
According to Nyeri Deputy Governor Samuel Wamathai, Mr Gachagua, 64, passed away on Friday at 2.15 am.
Governor Gachagua died at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London while undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer.
Speaking to the media from London, the Governor's brother Rigathi Gachagua noted that: "My brother passed on this morning at 2.15 am London time. He struggled for two years with pancreatic cancer and gave up the battle of his life this morning."
He added that President Uhuru Kenyatta contacted him after the news broke and offered support to the family.
"We are making arrangements to bring him home as quickly as possible and we are grateful for the support from the Government. His Excellency, President Uhuru Kenyatta called me this morning to express his condolences and offered his support to the family. He has given instructions to the embassy here to assist us to put everything in place o that we can bring his remains back home," Rithagi told NTV.
He added that funeral arrangements would be made thereafter.
Last year, rumours of Gachagua's death were widely circulated following his long absence from the public eye.
It was unclear if he would be in the August polls due to his health condition but sources close to him divulged that he had already paid the Sh100,000 nomination fee in the Jubilee Party.
The deceased was also in serious wrangles with his Members of County Assembly (MCAs), who attempted to impeach him severally.
