The Passing of a Dedicated Leader
The political landscape of Kenya has been struck by the sudden loss of a prominent figure, William Cheptumo, who was serving as the Baringo Senator. On February 16, 2025, Senator Cheptumo passed away while receiving treatment at Nairobi Hospital. He was 57 years old. Known widely for his ardent advocacy for devolution and significant contributions to public service, his death marks the end of a notable career that spanned several key roles.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi confirmed the news, reflecting on Cheptumo’s unwavering commitment to advancing national interests. Cheptumo was a proud member of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and had stepped into the senatorial role for the first time during this term.
Political Journey and Legacy
Cheptumo’s political journey began well before his time as senator. From 2008 to 2013, he served as the Baringo North MP, where he earned a reputation as a zealous supporter of community-driven policies. He was deeply involved in legislative processes and took on various responsibilities within the Kenya National Assembly and different government ministries.
In the Senate, Cheptumo chaired the influential National Security, Defense and Foreign Relations Committee. Here, he focused on critical issues such as ethnic conflicts and cattle thefts, which have long plagued parts of Kenya. His hands-on approach in this role aimed to foster peace and security, addressing deeply rooted challenges with a comprehensive plan.
Despite his recent health struggles, Cheptumo remained vocal and engaged on social media. His last message was a show of support for Raila Odinga’s bid for a position within the African Union, dated February 11, 2025. This engagement reflected his enduring energy and enthusiasm for African unity and progress, even as he navigated personal health hurdles.
The news of his death has induced a wave of mourning across the nation. Colleagues remember Cheptumo not just as a political figure but as a force for positive change and a relatable public servant who diligently worked to make a difference in the lives of his constituents.
President William Ruto joined the chorus of tributes by honoring Cheptumo as a dedicated leader whose legacy will continue to impact Kenyan politics. Speaker Kingi also emphasized the senator’s staunch commitment to the cause of devolution, reinforcing the loss felt by both colleagues and the public alike.
With a career grounded in addressing security issues and promoting governmental reforms, William Cheptumo's absence creates a void in Kenyan politics. As the nation reflects on his contributions, the call for sustained progress in the areas he championed remains paramount.
6 Comments
Steven Rodriguez
February 17, 2025 AT 19:02 PMLet’s be real-Kenya lost one of the few senators who actually showed up to work. Cheptumo didn’t just sit in committee meetings; he went into the bush, sat with elders, and listened to pastoralists who’d been ignored for decades. His work on cattle theft wasn’t performative-it was tactical. He mapped routes, coordinated with county police, and pushed for real-time intel sharing across borders. That’s leadership. Most politicians would’ve just issued a press release and called it a day. He didn’t just advocate for devolution-he built the damn infrastructure for it. The void he leaves isn’t just political; it’s structural. And now? The wolves are circling, waiting to dismantle what he spent a decade constructing.
And let’s not pretend this was just about Kenya. His support for Raila’s AU bid? That wasn’t partisan. That was pan-African vision. He saw the continent’s security as interconnected. When was the last time you saw a Kenyan politician think beyond the county line? We need more like him. Not more speeches. More action.
Rest in power, Senator. Your work didn’t end with you. It just got harder for the rest of us.
Zara Lawrence
February 18, 2025 AT 13:49 PMI find it deeply suspicious that a senator dies just days after publicly endorsing Raila Odinga-a man who, according to credible intelligence leaks, has been under surveillance by Western intelligence agencies for alleged foreign interference in Kenyan elections. Coincidence? I think not. The timing is too precise. Nairobi Hospital? A facility known for its high-profile ‘unexplained’ deaths. And yet, no independent autopsy was requested. No media outcry. Why? Because the narrative is being controlled. The UDA needed a martyr to consolidate power ahead of the next election cycle. Cheptumo’s death isn’t tragic-it’s orchestrated. The devolution agenda? A distraction. The cattle theft reforms? A smokescreen. The real story is in the shadows. Ask yourself: who benefits? And why is no one asking?
Ashley Hasselman
February 19, 2025 AT 22:52 PMWow. A senator dies and suddenly everyone’s a historian. Let me guess-he also saved puppies and taught orphans to read while fixing the water pipes with his bare hands? Classic political obituary: turn a bureaucrat into a saint because he didn’t embezzle *quite* as much as the others. He chaired a committee? Big deal. Half the senators do. He tweeted support for someone? Cute. The man was 57. He probably had diabetes and bad cholesterol. The real tragedy? We still have to pay his salary to his family for the next five years. Thanks, democracy.
Also, ‘devolution’? That’s just a fancy word for ‘local corruption with better PR.’
Kelly Ellzey
February 21, 2025 AT 07:49 AMI just want to say… I’m so deeply moved by how much he cared. Not just in the way he worked, but in the way he showed up-for people, for ideas, for peace. Even when he was sick, he was still thinking about Africa. Still writing. Still believing. That’s rare. Really rare.
And you know what? I think he’d want us to keep going. Not with anger, not with grief, but with quiet, stubborn hope. Like planting seeds in dry soil. Even if you don’t see the tree, you’re still doing the work.
His legacy isn’t in statues or speeches. It’s in every kid in Baringo who now has a school because he pushed for the budget. Every elder who got justice because he sat with them. Every community that stopped raiding because he helped them talk.
So… let’s not just mourn him. Let’s be him. In small ways. In daily ways. In ways no one will ever tweet about.
Thank you, Senator. You mattered.
And if you’re reading this… I’m sorry you had to go so soon. But you left so much behind. And it’s beautiful.
❤️
maggie barnes
February 21, 2025 AT 15:11 PMWait, so the guy who was in office for 15 years and still had cattle theft as his #1 issue… is dead? And nobody else in Kenya can fix this? This is why the country’s a mess. You don’t need a ‘hero senator’-you need systemic change. Not one guy trying to patch a leak with his fingers while the whole dam collapses. And now we’re supposed to cry because he died doing the bare minimum? He was a politician. He got paid. He had a team. He had resources. He didn’t ‘save’ anyone. He just didn’t steal as much as the others. That’s not legacy. That’s baseline.
Also, ‘devolution’? More like devolved corruption. And Raila? Don’t even get me started. This whole tribute is just political theater. Wake up.
He’s gone. Move on. The system didn’t change. It never will.
Lewis Hardy
February 23, 2025 AT 04:56 AMI don’t know Cheptumo personally, but I’ve read his speeches. He didn’t talk about power-he talked about people. That’s rare. I think about how hard it must’ve been to sit with families who lost livestock to raiders, and then go to Nairobi and fight for funding while everyone else was arguing about who got the new SUV.
He didn’t need to be loud to be powerful. He just showed up. Consistently. Even when he was sick. That’s not just leadership. That’s integrity.
And honestly? I think that’s what scares people the most. Not his policies. Not his party. But the fact that someone could care that much and still get things done. It makes the rest of us look lazy.
He’s gone. But the questions he left behind? Those are still here.
What are *we* going to do now?