Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has joined Kenyans in mourning the late former Laikipia North Member of Parliament, Mathew Lempurkel, who passed away on Sunday morning while receiving treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital following injuries sustained in a road accident in Rongai, Kajiado County.
In his tribute, Gachagua described Lempurkel as a reliable partner and a key figure in the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), noting that his untimely death has robbed the movement of a steadfast ally.
“The DCP family has lost a dependable leader whose voice and courage enriched our cause. Lempurkel’s legacy will remain alive in the hearts of the people he served,” Gachagua said.
Lempurkel, who served as Laikipia North MP from 2013 to 2017 on an ODM ticket, was known for his vocal defense of pastoralist rights and the broader Maa community. In recent years, he had shifted his political allegiance from the ruling UDA party to the newly formed DCP, where he was seen as an influential mobilizer.
His sudden death has shocked both the political class and his supporters in Laikipia, many of whom remember him as a resilient, fearless, and outspoken leader.
As tributes continue to pour in, Gachagua urged Kenyans to honor Lempurkel’s memory by upholding the values he stood for—service, courage, and community advocacy.
Lempurkel’s passing leaves a vacuum not only in Laikipia politics but also within the emerging DCP movement, where he had begun carving a role as one of its pillars of strength.
