Kenya is mourning the loss of former Laikipia North Member of Parliament, Mathew Lempurkel, who passed away on Sunday morning while undergoing treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital. The ex-lawmaker had been battling severe injuries sustained in a tragic road accident last weekend in Rongai, Kajiado County.
Lempurkel, a well-known political figure who served in the 11th Parliament between 2013 and 2017 under the ODM ticket, succumbed in the Intensive Care Unit, where doctors had been fighting to save his life.
Deputy President and Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua led tributes, hailing him as a “dedicated leader” whose influence would remain alive in the hearts of the people he served. “May his soul rest in peace, and may his family find comfort and strength during this difficult moment,” Gachagua said.
ODM also issued a statement of condolence, remembering him as a fearless champion for pastoralist issues and a loyal servant of the Laikipia North people.
Lempurkel’s career was not without controversy. In 2021, he was sentenced to a one-year jail term for assaulting his successor, Sarah Korere, though he was later released on bail after serving 45 days. Despite political setbacks, he remained active and had recently shifted allegiance from UDA to the newly established DCP Party.
His untimely death has shocked many across the country, with leaders and residents alike describing him as a bold politician whose legacy will not be forgotten.
