Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has eulogised former Cabinet Minister and veteran politician Dalmas Otieno as an exemplary statesman.
Otieno passed away earlier on Sunday in a Nairobi hospital where he had been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed illness. He was 80 years old.
In a statement on Sunday, Uhuru said the former cabinet minister made immense contributions to the nation’s social and economic development.
“It is with deep sorrow that I have learned of the passing of Dalmas Otieno, a distinguished leader who served his country with dedication and humility. Otieno was an exemplary statesman whose career in public service spanned decades,” he said.
“His calm demeanor, wisdom, and commitment to dialogue set him apart as a leader who always placed Kenya’s unity and progress above all else. To his family, friends, and the people of Rongo and the larger Migori County, I extend my heartfelt condolences.”
He prayed that Otieno’s family and friends find comfort in the knowledge that his life was one of purpose, service, and honor.
Otieno, a towering figure in Kenya’s political landscape for over three decades, served as Rongo MP and held various ministerial positions under the Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki administrations.
He is perhaps best remembered for his role as Minister for Public Service in the Grand Coalition Government, where he spearheaded transformative reforms in Kenya’s civil service.
Born in 1945 in Rongo, Migori County, Otieno had a long and distinguished career in politics and public administration. He served as Minister for Industrialisation, Labour, and Transport & Communications during his early political life, and later played a central role in digitising government services and modernizing civil service operations.
Otieno was also known for his intellectual depth, having studied Applied Economics at Makerere University and undertaken further training in insurance and finance. Before entering politics, he was a respected professional in the financial services sector.
Though he lost his parliamentary seat in 2017, Otieno remained active in national dialogue and was later appointed to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). In 2022, he made an unsuccessful bid for the Migori gubernatorial seat on a Jubilee Party ticket.
