Famous political mobiliser Joseph Kubende dies after falling from Kasarani apartment

Joseph Kubende died at the age of 42 on March 23, 2023. [Courtesy]

Famous Bungoma political mobiliser Joseph Kubende died on Thursday, March 23 after falling from the fourth floor of an apartment on Lumumba Drive in Kasarani Sub-County.

The incident, according to a police report filed at the Kasarani Police Station, occurred at around 6pm.

The report said Kubende, 42, died in what could be a case of suicide.

The now-deceased had visited his cousin, Justo Misika Wanyama, who lives at GM Apartments on Lumumba Drive.

"Kubende, who had stayed at his cousin's place for one week, was scheduled to travel to the United States where he lived," said the police report filed under the OB Number 88/23/03/2023.

After falling from the Lumumba Drive apartment on Thursday, Good Samaritans took the victim to Jesse Kay Hospital in Roysambu for emergency treatment.

He was, thereafter, referred to Radiant Group of Hospitals in Pangani for advanced treatment.

Kubende, however, succumbed to his injuries while at the hospital.

Police said preliminary investigations revealed Kubende was alone in the house during the incident.

His body was moved to Montezuma Monalisa Funeral Home, Jimmy Kimaru, the Kasarani Sub-County Directorate of Criminal Investigations Officer (DCIO), told The Standard.

Kubende celebrated his 42nd birthday on March 19.

He took to Facebook to ask God to "protect and guide me through the turbulence of life".

Prior to relocating to the United States, Kubende worked as teacher of English and Literature at the Kigali Institute of Education in Rwanda.

A gifted orator, musician and author, Kubende was known for his books such as Ancient Pot of Gold and In Search of God.

Back in Bungoma County, where he was credited for helping Wycliffe Wangamati win the August 8, 2017 governorship, Kubende was famous among the youth.

After National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula resigned from his Bungoma Senate seat in September 2022, speculations were rife that Kubende would seek to succeed him on the Democratic Action Part of Kenya (DAP-K) ticket.

Kubende's interest in the seat was, however, deflated after DAP-K Party leader Wafula Wamunyinyi secured the ticket to face off against Wetangula's ally, Wafula Wakoli of Ford-Kenya.

Wakoli went ahead to win the December 8, 2022 Bungoma Senate by-election with over 64,000 votes against the 45,862 votes garnered by his closest challenger, Mwambu Mabonga of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party.

Police have taken up investigations into the death of Kubende, with the current hypothesis being pursued indicating that he might have committed suicide.

The cause of the alleged suicidal ideation remains unclear.