Residents of Mumbuni North Ward in Machakos Town Constituency are mourning the death of their Member of County Assembly (MCA), Gideon Kavuu, who died on Saturday evening.
Kavuu, 65, had complained of body weakness and was rushed to a private hospital in Machakos town, where he was pronounced dead.
He had returned home on Friday from Eldoret town in Uasin Gishu County, where he had attended the Devolution Conference.
The first Speaker of the Machakos County Assembly, Bernard Mung'ata, who is also from Mumbuni Ward, expressed his shock and grief over the demise of Kavuu.
"He was a devoted leader whose zeal for serving the society was unmatched. I worked with him during the first Assembly as the Speaker and his death is a big blow to us," Mung'ata said.
He also urged politicians to respect the family's privacy and avoid early campaigns.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua also eulogized Kavuu as a humble and diligent leader who served his community well.
Members of the Machakos County Assembly led by Speaker Ann Kiusya convened at the Assembly grounds on Sunday morning to pay tribute to their colleague.
"We have lost a jovial and passionate leader who was committed to transforming the lives of his people of Mumbuni North. He passed on yesterday (Saturday) after being taken ill," Kiusya said.
She added, "On behalf of my family and the entire County Assembly of Machakos, we convey heartfelt condolences to his family and residents of Mumbuni North Ward."
Kavuu was a former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) official before joining politics. He served in the first Assembly between 2013 and 2017 before losing his seat to Paul Museku of Wiper party.
However, he made a comeback in 2022 and reclaimed his seat on a Maendeleo Chap Chap party ticket.