Son of Former Cabinet Minister Karisa Maitha Passes Away
John Thoya Maitha, the son of the late former Cabinet Minister Karisa Maitha, has passed away. His sudden death has left many in mourning, particularly in the Coast region where he hailed from.
Thoya, a professional engineer, was remembered as a highly respected academic. At the time of his passing, he was a lecturer at the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM), where he also served as the Deputy Director at the university’s Renewable Energy and Climate Change Research Centre.
Although the exact cause of his death has not yet been confirmed, prominent leaders such as Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya and Senate Speaker Amason Kingi paid tribute to Thoya’s impactful life.
CS Mvurya described him as a brilliant academic who made significant contributions to the engineering field and played a crucial role in advancing the Blue Economy through higher education.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Hon. Karisa Maitha and Mama Rachel Maitha following the death of their beloved son, Engineer John Thoya Maitha.
He was also the brother of Juney Karisa, the Head of Public Communication at the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports,” Mvurya said in a statement.
Mvurya also praised Thoya for his deep involvement in community service, noting that his efforts went beyond academia. He was actively involved in empowering young people and promoting grassroots development initiatives across the region.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi echoed similar sentiments, drawing a comparison between Thoya and his father. He described Thoya as a man who, just like his father, devoted his life to the service of his community and inspired many youths to pursue education and excellence.
“His mentorship and dedication to uplifting the lives of young people made a lasting impact. He encouraged many to chase their dreams and give back to society,” Kingi said.
John Thoya’s father, the late Hon. Karisa Maitha, was a prominent political figure in the Coast region and served under former President Mwai Kibaki. Maitha was known for his bold leadership and earned both admiration and criticism during his time in government.
He began his career as a clinical officer before making his entry into politics in 1979, when he was elected as a councillor for Mwakirunge ward. He later became the Member of Parliament for Kisauni in 1992.
After being re-elected in 1997, Maitha left KANU and joined President Kibaki’s Democratic Party (DP), where he became one of the founding members. When Kibaki assumed power in 2002, Maitha was appointed as the Minister for Local Government.
During his time as Minister for Local Government, Maitha gained the nickname “Hurricane” due to his swift and often controversial decisions, which led to the dismissal of several senior officials.
Later, he was moved to the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, where he continued to serve with dedication. Tragically, it was during an official assignment abroad that he met his untimely death.
On August 25, 2004, Maitha died at the age of 50 after suffering a heart attack while on a government trip to Germany. He had been in the middle of a phone interview with a German radio station when he suddenly collapsed. He was rushed to a hospital in Frankfurt, but doctors were unable to save him.
Maitha was in Germany leading a high-level Kenyan delegation on a week-long tourism promotion campaign aimed at marketing Kenya as a top travel destination. His death shocked the nation and marked the end of a passionate and impactful political career.
Now, years later, the Maitha family is once again mourning another tragic loss, as they bid farewell to John Thoya Maitha — a man who, like his father, dedicated his life to service, knowledge, and community transformation.
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