Kibra MP Ken Okoth dead

 

Kibra MP Ken Okoth 41, has died at Nairobi Hospital after a long battle with cancer.

 

Okoth's brother Imran Okoth said the MP who died at around 4PM on Friday asked his family to switch off the life support machine. His body has been moved to Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi. 

The legislator has been battling colorectal cancer for several months and was rushed to Nairobi Hospital on Thursday night.

Colorectal cancer, as defined by Mayoclinic.com, is when it develops from both the colon and rectum.

The MP, in a past interview with the Standard, admitted the diagnosis came a little too late but he was optimistic that he would pull through.

“I was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer with metastases to the liver,” he told The Standard.

Ten days ago, Okoth made his first public after returning from France where he had been receiving treatment.

He attended the Kibra Music Fest at Moi Girls School, Nairobi, accompanied by other City leaders.

Okoth hailed Kenyans for praying for him during his time in France and vowed to overcome the disease in the long run.

His struggle with cancer

Okoth who was one of the youngest Members of Parliament and a visionary described himself as an educator, humanist and at the age of 40 he added another title to his impressive public life - a cancer warrior.

The diagnosis was not easy to come by. For over a year, he presented symptoms of ulcers, at times bacterial infections and that is what he was being treated for.

He was even put on drugs to manage stress. He said all along he was battling abdominal pain and weight loss.

By the time his doctor ordered some advanced scans, the cancer had hit stage four. “The fear of the unknown that accompanies a cancer diagnosis is immense. Cancer changes your life completely,” he said in a past interview.

Last year, Okoth was put through vigorous treatment that involved combined radio- and chemotherapy to avert the impending risk of organ failure.

The MP recently lauded by State House for his bravery in his fight against cancer and in a message that urged Kenyans to emulate him.

In March Ken tweeted: “Napambana na hali yangu kabisa. Chemo drugs brutal on the skin and immunity system.”