Former Minister John Koech Passes Away
John Koech, a former Cabinet Minister in Kenya, has died.
Koech was well known for his role in government, especially during President Mwai Kibaki’s administration.
He held the position of Minister for East African Regional Cooperation between 2006 and 2007. Prior to that, he served as the Minister of Public Works from 1988 to 1989 under the late President Daniel arap Moi.
He holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Member of Parliament for Chepalungu Constituency. His time in office spanned two separate terms—from 1979 to 1990, and later from 2003 to 2007.
Born in 1946 in Olbutyo, a village in Chepalungu, Koech began his education at Segemik Primary School before advancing to Tenwek High School, where he completed both his O-Level and A-Level studies. He later joined Makerere University in Uganda and graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.
Koech’s professional journey began in education. From 1973 to 1975, he worked as a high school teacher, and between 1976 and 1979, he served as an education officer. His passion for leadership and public service drove him to venture into politics.
In his first attempt to win the Chepalungu parliamentary seat, he narrowly lost, coming in second to the sitting MP, Kimunai arap Soi.
However, Koech finally clinched the seat during the 1979 general election, which was the first national vote after Daniel arap Moi became President following the death of Jomo Kenyatta. Koech had caught the attention of President Moi through influential Kipsigis leaders, including Isaac Salat, a long-serving Assistant Minister in the Office of the President, who helped introduce him to the new Head of State. At the time, Moi was assembling a trusted team to help run his administration.
As MP for Chepalungu, Koech was known for championing education and development in the Kericho and Bomet regions, inspired by his background as an educator.
His efforts earned him recognition and, in 1988, he was appointed Minister for Public Works. However, his tenure was short-lived, as he was dismissed from the role in May 1989.
Reports indicate that he was removed from office after disagreements with President Moi and some influential figures in the government concerning how he was managing the ministry.
One of the most memorable incidents during Koech’s time in government happened after a graduation ceremony at Egerton University.
As was tradition, a luncheon would follow at President Moi’s home. On this particular occasion, Koech was denied entry to the event, a public snub that deeply embarrassed him.
In response, he stormed off to the Nation Media Group’s Nakuru office and personally submitted a resignation letter, which was published in the newspapers the next day.
Surprisingly, the following morning, Koech called a press conference to withdraw his resignation and resumed his duties shortly after. What happened behind the scenes remains a mystery to this day.
Despite his fallout with the President, Koech was later appointed as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a post he held from 1998 to 2000.
As his political career approached its end, Koech returned to Parliament in 2003 to serve Chepalungu again, ultimately totaling 16 years of parliamentary service.
He later expressed interest in running for the position of Bomet County Governor but was unable to pursue the seat due to his advanced age.
John Koech leaves behind a legacy of public service marked by dedication to education, resilience in politics, and significant contributions to his constituency and the nation at large.
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