Ruto, Raila and Mudavadi console with family of former Kinango MP
By Tobby otum
One time Kinango legislator Simeon Mkalla was laid to rest at little known village of Matumbi sub location in Kwale county.
The burial of Mkalla, which was according to Islamic rights, brought business to a standstill in the village.
Mkalla, who defended his seat against incumbent Gonzi Rai in the 1997 polls, was described during the emotional burial as a good mentor in leadership and governance and his death as a big blow to the Duruma community and Kwale county at large.
President William Ruto’s condolence message was coveyed to the family by immediate lawmaker Benjamin Dalu Tayari who doubled up as master of ceremony during the burial.
He also conveyed condolence message from former speaker of national assembly Justin Muturi who had worked with the deceased in the 8th parliament.
Kwale senator Issa Boy conveyed Azimio Presidential candidate Raila Odinga’s
condolence message to the family of the former area lawmaker.
ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi’s condolence message to the bereaved family was conveyed by former Kwale governor Salim Mvurya who also conveyed a similar message from his successor Fatuma Achani.
Gonzi’s and nominated member of parliament Joseph Denar’s messages of condolence were conveyed to the bereaved family by local county administrator Samson Chale Joho.
He told them the two are currently attending an induction session for the 13th parliament at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi.
Newly elected Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and Pamoja African Alliance [PAA] party leader’s message of condolence to the bereaved family was conveyed by party national chairman Ibrahim Babaginda.
Other leaders present were retired Kenya Ports Authority [KPA] engineer Lung’anzi Chai Mangale and loser in the Kwale gubernatorial race on a PAA ticket Prof Hamadi Boga who had decamped from ODM. Boga lost to Achani in the gubernatorial race.Former KPA Managing Director James Mulwa who succeeded the deceased at the port after being sacked was also in attendance.
Mvurya said the deceased was a healthy competitor who never took politics as a personal grudge.
He added despite being in different camps with the deceased during elections they never took it as a big deal.
“The deceased took politics as sports where there are losers and winners at the end of the game,” he pointed out.
A family member told mourners his young brother suffered a stroke and had been undergoing treatment for the last three years before he passed on last Sunday.
In active politics Mkalla made former cabinet minister and diplomat Chirau Ali Mwakwere suffer a setback as he ditched him for ODM candidate Dr. Issa Chipera during the 2013 general election which was a much needed change in Kwale county.
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