Former Minister and MP John Koech Dies

Former Chepalungu Member of Parliament and Minister for the East African Community John Koech has passed away. 

According to his family, the former minister died at a hospital in Nairobi while receiving treatment. 

Koech's political career is marked by multiple terms as MP for Chepalungu and various ministerial roles.

He began his professional life as a high school teacher between 1973 and 1975, after which he became an education officer from 1976 to 1979.  

His initial attempt to enter politics in 1974 was unsuccessful, but he eventually secured the Chepalungu parliamentary seat in the 1979 General Election. 

He served as the MP for Chepalungu from 1979 to 1990 and again from 1992 to 1997. 

During this time, he was appointed to several ministerial positions, including the Minister of Public Works. 

However, his term was cut short in 1989 due to disagreements with the late former President Daniel Arap Moi. 

He was reappointed to the Cabinet in 1997, shortly before the General Election, serving as a Minister in the Office of the President following the dismissal of Kipkalya Kones. 

From 2006 to 2007, Koech served as the Minister for East African and Regional Cooperation.

After an unsuccessful bid for the Bomet governorship in 2013, Koech retired from active politics and has been out of the public eye until his demise.