HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 1559108,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1559108/?format=api",
"text_counter": 99,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Chepalungu, CCM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Victor Koech",
"speaker": null,
"content": "The late Hon. Koech was laid to rest on 15th April 2025 in his home in Chepalungu Constituency. His life was a shining testament to public service and selfless leadership. He was a statesman of extraordinary humility, resolve and character. He was a long-serving Member of Parliament for Chepalungu Constituency and the respected Cabinet Minister. He gave his all to the service of our nation. Notably, he is so far the longest-serving Member of Parliament for Chepalungu, having held the seat from 1979 to 1990 and again from 2003 to 2007. A testament to the deep trust and enduring bond he shared with his constituents. From his early days under the Kenya Africa National Union (KANU), Hon. Koech distinguished himself as a man of reason and a voice of the people. He rose steadily, propelled not by ambition, but by purpose. His leadership was marked by a deep connection to the people he served, especially the often-overlooked communities of Chepalungu, where he championed development in education, infrastructure, agriculture and youth empowerment. When he spoke, people listened to him, not because he shouted, but because his words carried the weight of wisdom and sincerity. He was a leader who believed that roads should reach to the farmers; that children should sit in classrooms and dream freely; and that young people should have a future built on opportunity, not despair. As a Minister for East African Community and Regional Cooperation, Hon. Koech extended his vision beyond our borders. He believed deeply in regional unity and worked tirelessly to build bridges on economic, diplomatic and cultural between Kenya and her neighbours. His efforts laid the groundwork for strong regional integration and a shared East African destiny. One of the most defining moments of his political career came in 2002, during the time of great political upheaval. He made the courageous choice to part ways with the then ruling party and stood firmly on the side of change, aligning himself with the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) and its presidential candidate, the late Hon. Mwai Kibaki. That decision led to his expulsion from KANU. It was not just political, but also moral. It was a stand for democracy, a bold declaration that the will of the people must always prevail over the convenience of power. Hon. Speaker, beyond politics, the late Hon. John Koech was a diplomat who served the country as the Permanent Representative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a responsibility he discharged dutifully. In burying the late Hon. Koech, we did not bury his ideals; we planted a legacy. We laid to rest a body, but his spirit of service, courage, and leadership lives on in lives he touched and institutions he helped build. As we mourn his loss, we draw inspirations from the extraordinary lives, service, and dedication to humanity. May his soul rest in eternal of peace. May his family and the loved ones find comfort in the legacy he leaves behind. Hon. Speaker, allow me to recognise the support that you gave to the family, together with Hon. Members from this House. We were so privileged as a constituency. Equally, allow me to register the support given to the family by His Excellency the President of the Republic, cabinet secretaries - Chirchir and Hon. Murkomen - and all the support that we got in paying his last respects. I thank all of them on behalf of the family and on behalf of the constituency. Thank you so much, Hon. Speaker."
}