The year 2018 has had it’s own fair share of deaths of prominent figures as well as those of ordinary wananchi.
Below is a list of some of the prominent personalities who died:
KENNETH MATIBA
Kenneth Matiba, a veteran Kenyan politician, died on April 15 while being treated for stroke at the Karen Hospital.
Matiba was hospitalised for a few week after his internal organs started failing.
He died at the age 85 years and will be remembered for his role in fighting for multi-party democracy in Kenya.
MIGORI SENATOR BEN OLUOCH OKELLO
Ben Oluoch died at MP Shah Hospital in Nairobi on June 19 after a battle with throat cancer.
He died at 52 years after being treated at among other places India.
The senator was replaced by former Cabinet Minister Ochillo Ayacko.
GRACE KIPCHOIM
Baringo South MP Grace Kipchoim succumbed to cancer at Nairobi Hospital on April 20.
The 49-year-old had suffered from acute colon cancer for close to two years.
Kipchoim was re-elected on a Jubilee Party ticket on August 8, 2017 despite being sick.
She did not campaign due to the illness but won the race on grounds of her development track record and security initiatives.
HENRY OBWOCHA
The former West Mugirango MP died on August 4 after collapsing at his home in Nairobi.
The KCA university founder was the West Mugirango MP between 1992 to 2007 and was the acting Energy minister in 2006.
He was the chairman of the Privatisation Commission at the time of his demise.
Obwacha, 69, passed on after complaining he was feeling unwell at his sister-in-law’s burial in Nyamira.
NICHOLAS KIPLAGAT BETT
The world champion in the 400m hurdles died on the morning of August 8 following a road accident at Lessos, Nandi county.
Bett was driving on his way to Nairobi when he lost control of his vehicle, hit a bump and landed in a ditch. He died instantly.
The 28-year-old athlete will be remembered for being the first Kenyan to win a gold medal in the men’s 400m hurdles in Beijing in 2015
YVONNE WAMALWA
Yvonne Wamalwa died at Nanyuki Cottage hospital in January after developing complications.
Yvonne, 49, was the widow of former vice president Kijana Wamalwa.
Former president Mwai Kibaki had appointed her as Kenya’s permanent deputy representative to the United Nations Habitat.
Until her death Yvonne was the Deputy Director in the Asia and Australia Directorate in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
JOSEPH KAMARU
The legendary Kikuyu pop musician passed away on October 2 at MP Shah Hospital where he was admitted.
The 79-year-old was suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
The celebrated musician who was famed for classic hits such as Gathoni and Charia Ungi
The late was close to President Jomo Kenyatta but the two later fell out after he condemned JM Kariuki’s murder in 1975.
JOHN GAKUO
Former Nairobi Town Clerk John Gakuo died on October 30 at the Mbagathi District Hospital in Nairobi.
He died after being rushed there from Nairobi West Prison where he was serving a jail sentence.
Gakuo was first elected Nairobi Town Clerk in 2004 having served in the provincial administration for over 20 years.