Vocal Maendeleo Democratic Party leader Omukanda dies in dawn accident

Maendeleo Democratic Party (MDP) party leader Amisi Omukanda died on Wednesday in an accident.

One of his party youth leaders Charles Ong'ayo suffered multiple fractures during the accident while a female passenger escaped unhurt.

Ong'ayo is admitted to the Kakamega county general hospital.

The accident occurred in the Sasala area along the Kakamega-Mumias road at 2:00pm.

Omukanda’s body was moved to the Kakamega County funeral parlour.

The late Omukanda’s nephew Boniface Wangwe said that he was dropping his youth leaders when the accident occurred.

“He had been having discussions about the party with the two youths in his house and was dropping them to their home when the accident happened killing him on the spot. We don’t know exactly what happened before the accident,” Wangwe said.

“He appears to have lost control of the vehicle before it rolled. It s unclear whether he may have been destructed by an oncoming vehicle,” he said.

Omukanda is the elder brother to Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala.

Omukanda is a former policeman who joined politics in 2002 and won the West Butsotso ward seat as a councillor at the defunct Kakamega county council where he served for two terms.

He ran for the Navakholo parliamentary seat in 2017 and lost to Emmanuel Wangwe.

He was nominated by his party as an MCA at the Kakamega County assembly between 2013 and 2017.

Omukanda leaves behind three widows and eight children; three sons and five daughters.

In a tweet on Wednesday morning, Inyangala said that she had not just lost a brother but also a friend and a mentor.

Kakamega senator and Senate majority whip Boni Khalwale eulogised Omukanda as a leader of many facets who was prominently featured in many aspects of leadership in defending the community and the region.

“As we mourn his loss, we also celebrate his great legacy and accomplishments. We pray for the family that God gives them comfort and fortitude during this time of mourning,” he said.