Chepkut was to meet Ruto days before death
The late former Ainabkoi MP William Chepkut was planning to meet President William Ruto before he died on Saturday, People Daily has established.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula yesterday disclosed that Chepkut visited him three weeks ago seeking appointment with the Head of State.
“He wanted to see the President and I was planning to fulfill his wish. Kumbe Mungu alikuwa na mpango ingine (little did I know God had other plans). We pray to God to rest his soul in eternal peace,” Wetang’ula said.
He has described Chepkut as a man with a deep sense of humour, who interacted well with people.
“If you sat down with Chepkut you would not get bored. It seems God also wanted someone to make him laugh,” Wetang’ula added.
While mourning the late MP, Roads Cabinet Secretary nominee Kipchumba Murkomen said he last met Chepkut on Friday evening in the company of his friends at a city hotel.
“He was in a jovial mood. In his characteristic manner he showered me with praises. William was a very lovely guy. Extremely connected. Loyal to his seniors almost to a fault,” Murkomen said.
“When we parted, we agreed to meet soon to discuss matters of infrastructure. I did not know it was going to be the last time with him. Fare thee well Hon. William Chepkut,” added Murkomen.
Chepkut died on Saturday morning at Mediheal Hospital in Parklands, Nairobi where he was rushed after he was found unconscious in his house.
Family members who confirmed the news of his demise told People Daily said that they also received the news from Mediheal.
According to Chepkut’s younger brother, Enock Kosgei, the former legislator had been battling kidney disease, however, his health had lately improved, and they hoped he would fully recover.
Chepkut collapsed in his house and was rushed to Mediheal where he was pronounced dead.
He had been unwell and was hospitalised between late last year and early this year. The August election marked the third consecutive time Chepkut was facing off Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkong’a.
Younger brother
He was among perceived Rift Valley rebels who were swept off by the United Democratic Alliance wave in the region.
Others who paid the price for challenging Ruto’s dominance in the region included MPs Sila Tiren (Moiben), Dr Swarup Mishra (Kesses) and Alfred Keter of Nandi Hills. They all vied as independents.
Their goose seemed to have been cooked after Ruto (now President) called on the electorate in Rift Valley to ignore independent candidates and only vote in UDA candidates.
Chepkut, a long-serving Personal Assistant to the late former powerful Cabinet Minister Nicholas Biwott, had dislodged Chepkong’a in 2017 while running as an independent candidate. Known for his charm and humour, Chepkut will be remembered for his public theatrics and comedy.
In 2019, for instance, he went viral after he publicly called a senior Government official on a loudspeaker after leading a demonstration over rising cases of insecurity in his constituency.
In some public events, Chepkut would be seen sitting on the ground with members of the public, apparently to endear himself to the electorate.
But it seems the electorate already had made their minds on August 9 polls as not even Chepkut’s pleas to re-elect him because he was admitted to hospital for the better part of this year could spare him the wrath of the electorate.
“People say I am fighting the Deputy President William Ruto (now President), but they should be reminded that I was the first one who complained when his security was withdrawn from his Karen residence,” Chepkut who vied as an independent had told his constituents in the run-up to the election.
In the final tally, Chepkong’a garnered 26,479 votes against Chepkut’s 13,510.
Chepkut conceded defeat and congratulated Chepkong’a for the political comeback.
