Former powerful KANU Minister Wilson Ndolo Ayah dies at 84

Former powerful KANU Cabinet Minister Wilson Ndolo Ayah is dead.

The former Foreign minister died at a Nairobi hospital Wednesday evening aged 84.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who mourned his death, described Ayah as a dedicated leader who served the country diligently as a legislator and as a Minister.

“To everyone who knew him and had the opportunity to work with him, Ayah was well respected as a humble, kind and courageous man who had a singular sense of duty to his family, his community and the nation,” said President Kenyatta in a statement.

“In this hour of sorrow, I convey my sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, relatives and friends,” he added.

Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi described Ayah as a person who was Ayah was very meticulous about government affairs by never letting a detail escape him.

“I served with Ayah in the Cabinet of from 1989 to 1993 when he left as Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister after serving earlier from 1987 as Minister for Research Science and Technology,” said Mudavadi in a statement.

Mudavadi noted that he had been very fortunate and comfortable working with Ayah as the first Chairman of Safaricom LTD.

“As Foreign Minister between 1990 and 1993, he (Ayah) steered Kenya’s international image through the turbulence of the return to a multi-party system of governance. The legacy he leaves behind for leaders to emulate is that he wasn’t fastidious about things of the good life probably because of his training as rural sociologist,” stated Mudavadi.

Ndolo Ayah was born in Kisumu and educated at Maseno School, Makerere University and University of Wisconsin–Madison graduating with a MSc in Rural Sociology.

He was first elected to Parliament in the General Election of December 1969 as MP Kisumu Rural Constituency.

He lost in 1974, but was elected MP in the neighbouring Kisumu Town Constituency in 1983.

For the 1988 elections he switched constituencies with the late Dr. Robert Ouko, becoming once again MP for Kisumu Rural until 1992. He served as a nominated Member of Parliament from 1992-1997 when he retired from elective politics.

He served as the first chairman of Safaricom LTD from start up to the largest company in East Africa.

He is survived by a widow and one son.