During his political heydays, former Nairobi Mayor Charles Rubia was a force to reckon in the country's arena.
At the height of his political popularity, Dr Rubia was a popular opposition figure whose contribution has shaped up the country's political landscape.
After serving as Nairobi Mayor until 1969, Rubia would transition into city politics which he went on to dominate the country's capital, serving as Starehe MP for nearly two decades until 1988 when he dubiously lost in the Mlolongo system of election.
The man from Murang'a would later join other opposition figures advocating for multi-party politics including Kenneth Matiba, a veteran politician and former Minister who had just defected from the ruling party KANU.
Then there was Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya's first Vice President and veteran opposition leader. Others included then firebrand lawyer and former Ugenya MP James Orengo and former political detainee Raila Odinga.
In the early 1990s, the period of serious political activities in the country, Rubia rose to fame.
He was among those arrested in 1991 for allegedly organizing outlawed political meetings. He was subsequently sent to jail alongside others including Raila. But undeterred, the rest of the group intensified calls for President Moi to initiate political reforms in the country.
The President would later succumb to the opposition and international pressure to facilitate the introduction of the multi-party system. This paved way for the formation of the Forum for Restoration of Democracy (FORD), an opposition party consisting of nearly all advocates of multi-partyism.
After a fallout within FORD on the criteria to be used to settle for a presidential candidate in the 1992 general election, Rubia and Matiba led a splinter group to form FORD Asili, the party which Matiba used to contest that year's election.
Rubia who died on Monday will no doubt be remembered as one of the greatest politicians Kenya has ever produced.
His role in the 'Second Liberation' will never go unrecognized.
Even after passing on at 96 years, Rubia remains an icon in Kenya.