[Joel Onyancha in a past event. He died at Aga Khan Hospital on Wednesday evening. Photo/Nation]
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s strategists may be forced to go back to drawing board following sudden death of Jubilee party chief campaigner from Gusii region.
Joel Onyancha, a long term ally of the president and former Bomachoge – Borabu MP, died in the Nairobi’s Aga Khan Hospital on Wednesday evening.
Details on his death was broken the Royal Media’s Egesa FM with the family revealing that he was suffering from a stroke.
Considered as one of the mist experienced Gusii politician, Onyancha was first elected to parliament on a Ford People ticket in 2002 before defending the seat successfully in 2007 on a PNU ticket.
His close association with former president Mwai Kibaki saw him serve as an Assistant Minister in the Sports and Heritage ministries between 2005 and 2013.
In 2013, Onyancha was elected for his third term on President Uhuru Kenyatta’s TNA before losing on August this year to Prof Zadoc Ogutu, an independent candidate.
Although controversial in local politics and a renown chief mobiliser of the Jubilee party, Onyancha will be remembered for defending his seat twice in a by- election.
Already, local leaders led by Kisii Governor James Ongwae have hailed him as a respectable politician, who mastered the art of winning.
“As a community we have lost a great leader. Despite being in opposition camps, we learnt a lot from him,” he said.
Similar tributes were echoed by Women Representative Janet Ong’era who labeled him mentor and teacher of politics.