As former Malava MP Soita Shitanda was being laid to rest on Saturday, the 56-year-old everyone who eulogized spoke of how fine the former Housing minister was.
To most people, the commendable job he did during his five year tenure as minister for Housing in the grand coalition government will remain pegged in everyone's memory.
Despite failing to clinch the Kakamega county gubernatorial seat in 2013, his place in the history of Western politics is assured.
But what did he do to merit all this praise?
He fought for the establishment of Butali Sugar Company in his Malava constituency. The company has however, had to fight fir its existence from the neighbouring West Kenya Sugar Company.
It is worth to note that the company employs 830 workers directly and serves over 10,000 farmers.
Soita Shitanda also spearheaded the construction of storeyed classrooms and administration and staff blocks in Mukhaweli Primary School in Kanduyi constituency in Bungoma and Amalemba Primary School in Kakamega town.
While Minister for Housing, the soft spoken Shitanda steered for the construction of dozens of five storeyed houses by the National Housing Corporation that fell under his ministry at Kakamega town, which were later sold to the residents of Western Kenya.
His action oriented leadership won the hearts of many Western Province, and especially Malava residents.He knew the needs of his residents.
His advocacy for quality education for the youth saw him become committed to constructing modern classrooms.
He was also very obsessed with urbanisation which to him will help in creating employment opportunities.
He is a lesson to modern politicians who play selfish politics at the expense of the electorate.