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{
    "id": 909300,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/909300/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 67,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Teso North, ANC",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Oku Kaunya",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13488,
        "legal_name": "Edward Oku Kaunya",
        "slug": "edward-oku-kaunya"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I stand to read a Statement on the demise of Hon. George Fredrick Oduya Oprong, Independence hero, former Assistant Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for the former Amagoro Constituency, which is currently Teso North and Teso South constituencies. As you are already aware, Busia County, and the nation at large, continues to mourn the death of a charismatic leader, statesman, Independence hero and trade unionist, the former Assistant Minister and MP for Amagoro, Hon. Oduya Oprong, MBS, who passed away on 25th May 2019 while undergoing treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital. The late Oduya Oprong was born in 1936 in Busia County. He studied at Chamasire Secondary School for his “O” Level and thereafter proceeded to Butonge Secondary School in Bungoma County where he sat for his “A” Level. The late Oprong’s journey into politics began when he became the first Secretary-General of the Kenya Quarry Mines and Allied Workers Union, being one of the founder members. He later became the first MP for Busia North in 1963. He was among one of the five surviving Members of the first Parliament at the time of his death; the rest being: His Excellency Daniel Arap Moi, former President; Charles Njonjo, former Attorney-General; His Excellency Mwai Kibaki, former President and Hon. James Osogo, former MP for Busia South, now Bunyala Constituency. In 1966, he was among 11 MPs who survived a by-election during the mass defection to Mzee Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s Kenya People’s Union until 1969 when he was replaced by Ojamaa Ojamong and later Emoto Ebu. He made one of the strongest political mileage when he served again as MP in 1974 on a KANU ticket until 1979 when he lost his seat to Achiya Echakara, the late MP and, thereafter, to Pancras Otwani. He vied for a third term in 1992 during the multi-party elections and was elected Member for Amagoro Constituency. Mzee Oprong served the country under his capacity as an Assistant Minister for Economic Planning and National Development at the time he was shot. He was awarded the Head of State Commendation (HSC), Civilian Division because of his contribution towards national development. He was known to many as a fallen retired politician who, with the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, championed for the release from detention of the founding father of this nation and the first President of Kenya, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. Hon. Speaker, the late Hon. Oprong escaped death by a whisker in 1993 when he was shot twice one evening in Nairobi. This left him with bullet remains in his head for 25 years until his demise. On behalf of the residents of Teso North Constituency and on my own behalf, I take this opportunity to convey a message of condolence and comfort to the family, relatives and friends of the late former Assistant Minister, Mzee Fredrick Oduya Oprong, for the loss of the The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}