- The year 2025 opened with hope, but was later marred by tragedies that claimed the lives of elected officials and prominent celebrities.
- Among the dead is former IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati, who is remembered as one of the most prominent people in Kenya.
- The death of ODM leader Raila Odinga on October 15 was the highlight of the year
By the end of the year 2025, we can say without batting an eye that it was a year of many sad events.
Source: UGC
Amidst the festive season, the nation was engulfed in the loss of several prominent figures that year.
TUKO.co.ke highlights the sad times that gripped the country.
1. Wafula Chebukati
Former chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Wafula Chebukati He died on February 20 while receiving treatment at Nairobi Hospital.
He had spent almost a week in the Intensive Care Unit after his condition deteriorated, following initial care at home.
Although the illness was not disclosed, Chebukati was 63 years old at the time of his death, having retired in January 2023 after a six-year term in which he presided over the 2017 election which he lost to Uhuru Kenyatta and the disputed 2022 election that declared William Ruto as president.
Chebukati was buried on March 8 in his Kitale farm.
2. William Cheptumo
The former Baringo senator died on February 16. He studied law at the University of Nairobi, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws in 1991 before obtaining a Diploma from the Kenya School of Law in 1992.
His career began in 1993 as a Legal Officer at the Industrial and Trade Development Corporation, later moving to the Central Bank of Kenya until 1998.
In the same year, he founded Cheptumo & Company Advocates, which he led until 2007, when he moved into politics as the Member of Parliament for Baringo North, a position he held until 2022.
During his parliamentary tenure, he served as Assistant Minister for Law, National Integration, and Constitutional Affairs between 2008 and 2012.
After the 2022 election, he was elected Baringo County Senator and went on to become the chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security, Defense and Foreign Relations.
3. Malulu Injendi
The Member of Parliament died on February 17 while receiving treatment at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, while his illness remained undisclosed.
Injendi was serving his third term in the National Assembly, after being first elected in 2013, re-elected in 2017, and re-elected in 2022.
At the time of his death, he was the vice-chairman of the Education and Research Committee, and his son, Rhyan Injendi, has announced his intention to succeed him under the UDA party ticket.
3. Ong’ondo Were
Member of Parliament for Kasipul Ong’ondo was shot and killed on April 31 in a gun attack near the City’s Mortuary Circle.
He was attacked by an assailant who was riding a motorcycle who is believed to have fled in his car from the Parliament Buildings before starting to shoot.
After being hit five times, the MP suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Nairobi Hospital.
4. Phoebe who is not
The former Member of Parliament for Karachuonyo, Phoebe Asiyo, died on July 17 in the United States, leaving behind a legacy that deeply touched those who loved her struggle to bring women into governance after independence.
Asiyo was instrumental in shaping Kenya’s political landscape, advocating for women’s empowerment and pushing for fair gender representation in leadership.
Her 1982 election as MP for Karachuonyo was a major success at a time when women’s voices in politics were few, and she later gained national recognition for championing the two-thirds gender law, now enshrined in the 2010 Constitution to ensure greater inclusion of women in public institutions.
6. Mathew Lempurkel
Former Laikipia North Member of Parliament, Mathew Lempurkel, died on August 24 while receiving treatment in the ICU at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
He was hospitalized after sustaining head injuries in a road accident on August 18 at Ong’ata Rongai along Magadi Road.
Lempurkel served as Member of Parliament for Laikipia North from 2013 to 2017 under the ODM ticket, but his career was beset by legal problems, including a one-year jail term in 2021 for assaulting then-designate Sarah Korere during an incident in 2016.
After leaving ODM in 2022, he briefly joined the UDA before switching allegiance in 2025 to the Democratic Party for the People (DCP), led by the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
7. Raila Odinga
His death was the highlight of the year.
Raila died on October 15 while undergoing treatment.
He died at Devamatha Hospital after suffering a heart attack.
Raila had collapsed and developed respiratory problems during his usual morning walk, prompting his immediate admission.
Despite the efforts of the medical team to revive him, their attempts were unsuccessful.
The attending cardiologist noted that Raila arrived without a heartbeat.
He was quickly transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where doctors placed an endotracheal tube to help him breathe. Unfortunately, the 80-year-old man did not recover despite intensive treatment.
Subsequent tests revealed that Raila had health problems, including diabetes, kidney problems, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in his right leg, and a history of fainting.
Along with CPR, emergency measures included placing an IVC filter to monitor for blood clots, administering injections, and performing thrombolysis to dissolve any blood clots.
Source: Twitter
Following the confirmation of his death, President William Ruto announced that the deceased would be given a national funeral with full military honours, recognizing him as a distinguished politician and a dedicated patriot who sacrificed his life for the welfare of the nation.
The country celebrated seven days of mourning, with flags flying at half-mast until his funeral.
His remains were returned to Kenya from India by plane Kenya Airways and received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on October 16.
Raila was buried on Sunday, October 19, ending state-led celebrations in his honour.
The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) honored him by firing a 17-gun salute during his state funeral.
8. Cyrus Jirongo
The former Lugari Member of Parliament died on December 13.
Jirongo lost his life in a fatal road accident when his car was hit by a speeding Climax bus at Karai on the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway.
He died instantly as a result of the accident, sustaining serious injuries, including broken legs.
An autopsy later revealed that blunt force trauma was the cause of death, causing extensive internal damage.
Jirongo’s tragic death led to rumors and underground hoaxes, leading to the intervention of the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI), whose investigators were tasked with investigating the circumstances of the accident.
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