Former Ainabkoi MP William Chepkut is dead

William Chepkut served as the MP for Ainabkoi Constituency between 2017 and 2022. [Christopher Kipsang, Standard]

The immediate former Ainabkoi Member of Parliament (MP) William Chepkut is dead.

Chepkut died on Saturday morning, October 8, at Mediheal Hospital in Parklands, Nairobi.

Family said he had been ailing for a while. He succumbed to his illness at around 8:40am on Saturday.

Some of his family members, who confirmed the news of Chepkut's death to The Standard, said they'd received the information from doctors at Mediheal, and were asked to travel to the Nairobi-based hospital from Uasin Gishu County.

Chepkut's younger brother Enock Kosgei told The Standard that the ex-lawmaker's health had, of late, improved, and that they hoped he'd fully recover.

Chepkut served as the MP for Ainabkoi Constituency in Uasin Gishu County between 2017 and 2022.

In the recent general election, he lost the Ainabkoi parliamentary seat to his archrival Samuel Chepkong'a.

In the August 9, 2022 elections, Chepkong'a of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) beat Chepkut, an Independent candidate.

Chepkong'a garnered 26,479 votes against Chepkut's 13,510 votes in the August 2022 polls.

The recent election marked the third consecutive time Chepkut was facing off against Chepkong'a.

In the 2017 polls, Chepkut defeated Chepkong'a, who was seeking re-election on Jubilee Party ticket.

Chepkut ran on Independent ticket after losing to Chepkong'a in the Jubilee Party primaries in the run-up to August 8, 2017 General Election.

In the 2017 polls, Chepkut got 23,216 votes against Chepkong'a's 19,140 votes

The Chepkut-Chepkong'a rivalry also previously played out in 2013, when Chepkong'a, who was a member of the defunct United Republican Party (URP), beat Chepkut of the National Vision Party.

Chepkut was known for his great sense of humour, both in public and Parliament.

Chepkut, between 1997 and 2003, served as the personal assistant of Nicholas Biwott, a powerful minister during President Daniel Moi's reign.

He held a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Jabalpur University in India, and a Master of Arts Degree in Community Development from Kenyatta University.