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Former minister Soita Shitanda passes on in city hospital


Former Housing Minister Peter Soita Shitanda is dead.

The late Shitanda died at 1.30 pm on Tuesday while receiving treatment at the Nairobi Hospital where he had been admitted for the last three weeks.

The late Shitanda had been suffering from diabetes for the last two years. He had also received a kidney transplant at a hospital in India some months ago.

His close associate, Lugari MP Ayub Savula said: “He has been diabetic. Three weeks ago, he suffered a sharp rise in blood sugar level and was taken to hospital. The doctors brought down the sugar levels but they later discovered that he was also suffering from a bout of pneumonia. At the time, he had left the intensive care unit and was being treated in the general ward.”

FROM LEFT: Bonny Khalwale, Soita Shitanda and Musalia Mudavadi at a campaign rally. PHOTO | FILE
FROM LEFT: Bonny Khalwale, Soita Shitanda and Musalia Mudavadi at a campaign rally. PHOTO | FILE

Mr Shitanda was serving as the chairman of the board of the Agricultural Development Corporation.

His death comes only three days after the burial of his elder brother, Walucho Shitanda at their Butali home in Malava constituency last Saturday. The late MP was conspicuously missing at the burial as he was indisposed.

President Uhuru Kenyatta said in his message of condolence that the former Minister was a patriotic and committed leader who was always loyal to the State and his country.

“Death has robbed us one of the loyal sons of this country, who served our country with dedication,” the President said.

Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi conveyed described the late Shitanda as a “great son and leader.”

Cord leader Raila Odinga in his message said Mr Shitanda was a soft spoken leader who represented his people diligently and with dedication.

Mr Shitanda was elected to parliament during the 1997 general election representing Malava constituency on a Ford Kenya ticket.

He was re-appointed Housing Minister after the 2007 poll, a post he held until the 2013 general election.