Nyamira County Governor, John Obiero Nyagarama, has died.
Nyagarama died at Nairobi Hospital where he had been admitted for four weeks having contracted Covid-19.
The governor, who died at the age of 74, was serving his second term as the governor through the Orange Democratic Movement ticket.
Nyagarama was elected governor in 2013 after unsuccessfully trying the West Mugirango Parliamentary seat for two elections.
Before his election as governor, Nyagarama was a director of the Kenya Tea Development Agency where he served for nearly three decades.
He had resigned from teaching as an English Literature teacher, a job which he had done for about 12 years since his graduation from the University of Nairobi where he had pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in education.
Nyagarama went to Nyakemicha Primary School before proceeding to Maseno School for his O Level and then Kisii High School before joining the University of Nairobi.
His love for theatre and language saw him participate in drama in both high school and university with his favourite part being the recital of William Shakespear's Hamlet.
In his teaching career, the governor taught former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara, former Nyaribari Chache MP Robert Monda at Nduru Boys where he taught English Literature.
Some of the high schools he taught before joining politics are Nduru, Nyansiongo and Menyenya secondary schools.
In the 2013 election, he defeated Charles Mochama and eight others to become the first governor of the county.
And in 2017, he won with a comfortable victory of over 7,000 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Walter Nyambati and nine others.
He hails from Bonyamatuta clan which is one of the largest Bagirango family in Nyamira County.
The governor's death comes two years after losing his eldest son George Ndemo at the same hospital where he passed on.
His son had stayed in the ICU of the facility for nearly three months, fighting breathing complications to which he finally succumbed.
He had also lost his first wife, Dorcas Sigara, more than 12 years ago.
He then married his current wife Naomi Ikonge. He is survived by eight children.
His eldest son, Kebaso, is a businessman while his favorite son, Gideon, is the Public Administration Director in the Nyamira County.
Before he was admitted to Nairobi Hospital, Nyagarama had officially opened his new residence at Isinya, where he held birthday celebrations for his second wife.
His deputy, Amos Nyaribo, who is poised to take over the county leadership, had also tested coronavirus positive but recovered from the illness.
Leaders from Nyamira County led the deputy governor, mourned the governor saying he was a humble man who had room for everyone.
MPs Joash Nyamoko (North Mugirango), Shadrack Mose (Kitutu Masaba), Vincent Kemosi (West Mugirango), Jerusa Momanyi(Woman Rep) and a host of members of the county led by Charles Barongo also mourned the late governor.
