Matungu MP Justus Murunga is dead

Matungu Member of Parliament Justus Murunga Makokha is dead.

Murunga died at the St. Mary’s Mission Hospital in Mumias, Kakamega County on Saturday night (November 14), the lawmaker’s cousin, Musa Ekaya, told K24 Digital.

Ekaya said Murunga had been receiving treatment for diabetes and COVID-19 at the Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu for one week before being discharged on Friday, November 13.

“When he arrived at his Matungu home, his diabetic condition deteriorated, and was rushed to the St. Mary’s Hospital in Mumias, where he died today evening (November 14),” said Ekaya.

According to the informant, MP Murunga had returned negative COVID-19 results after his one week admission at the Aga Khan Hospital, and was given a clean bill of health, necessitating his discharge.

The legislator is survived by a wife and children.

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya eulogised the Late Murunga as a “hardworking and selfless leader”.

“Hon Justus Murunga was a hardworking and selfless leader whom we worked together closely to develop Matungu. I'm deeply saddened by his death which has robbed Kakamega [of] a focused leader whose contribution in the development of our county will be missed. May his soul rest in peace,” said Oparanya on his Twitter page Saturday night.

The National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi described the Late Murunga as a “committed leader”.

“I have learnt with great sadness of the untimely demise of Matungu MP, Hon. Justus Murunga Makokha this evening. My deepest condolences to his family and the people of Matungu Constituency whom he served with utmost passion and commitment. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” Muturi said in a tweet Saturday night.

Murunga, an Amani National Congress (ANC) Party ticket holder, defeated the then-MP David Were in the August 8, 2017 general election.

More soon.