The family of Ken Osinde, who was until his death Deputy President William Ruto's Chief of Staff, has asked Kenyans to stop speculating over the cause of his death.
The family used the opportunity to reveal that Osinde underwent surgery before he was overwhelmed and died while receiving advanced treatment.
The statement by Osinde's family follows claims that linked his death to politics.
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"The family requests the avoidance of speculation on the cause of the passing of Ken Osinde and privacy during this trying period," the family said.
"Ambassador Ken Osinde was taken ill on December 7, 2021, and was admitted to the Nairobi Hospital on December 8, 2021, where he underwent emergency surgery. He was taken into the ICU where he, unfortunately, passed away on December 10, 2021," the statement further read.
DP Ruto led leaders across the country in eulogising Osinde, whom he celebrated as a hard-working and diligent friend.
"My Office has lost one of its key officers. Ambassador Ken Nyauncho Osinde was a good leader with robust management and problem-solving skills. As our Chief of Staff, he was a hard-working, diligent, broad thinker and a master of human resources," Ruto said.
Osinde started working at Harambee Annex in 2016 as the Chief of Staff, where he acted as a mediator of issues before they reached DP Ruto.
He had also served as a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, where he pioneered research and published on Sheng’ and youth languages.
He also worked as a manager at the National Bank of Kenya, where he rose to the position of Head of Strategic Planning before he ventured into the insurance industry as CEO and Director of the College of Insurance.
The deceased also served as an Ambassador of Kenya to Germany in 2010 and took part in the inauguration of the first direct flight from Mombasa to Berlin, Germany.
