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20 years on: Ex-VP Wamalwa's family to hold memorial service

The service will be held at his Milimani residence in Kitale, starting at 10 am.

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by MAUREEN KINYANJUI

News22 August 2023 - 12:36
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In Summary


  • To further keep his memory alive, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya will launch the Michael Wamalwa Kijana Memorial Teaching and Referral Hospital.
  • Wamalwa was the brother of DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa.
The late Former First Lady Lucy Kibaki, and President Mwai Kibaki dance with the new couple Kijana Wamalwa and Yvonne Wamalwa during their wedding ceremony in May 2003

The family of former Vice President Kijana Wamalwa will on Wednesday hold a memorial service to commemorate 20 years since the eighth vice president died.

In an obituary published today (Tuesday) in the Daily Nation, the service will be held at his Milimani residence in Kitale, starting at 10 am.

To further keep his memory alive, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya will launch the Michael Wamalwa Kijana Memorial Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Wamalwa was the brother of DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa.

In May 2003, he got married to Yvonne Nambia in a lavish wedding. 

The late Mwai Kibaki, then president-elect, had appointed Wamalwa as his Vice-President in December 2002.

He passed on at the Royal Free Hospital in London after battling kidney disease.

Michel Wamalwa was born in 1944 and grew into an intelligent young man. A former head boy in school, Wamalwa won a scholarship to study abroad.

He returned to the country with a law degree from Cambridge University and a degree from the London School of Economics.

Wamalwa launched his political career soon after his return. He earned the name 'Kijana' after he attempted to vie for a parliamentary seat in 1974 at 30 years of age. 

The community downplayed his quest for the parliamentary seat, terming him too young to become an MP.

Wamalwa and other young leaders dubbed 'Young Turks' formed Forum For Democracy Restoration (FORD) and continued to push for constitutional reforms.

The eloquent yet soft-spoken leader mobilized other members of the opposition to unite and kick out the Moi government.

During a past interview with a local TV station, former Defence CS Wamalwa said that senior Wamalwa was disappointed that his dream of a free Kenya had not been realised.

He argued that the corruption that he and other leaders had fought so hard against in the previous regime had been carried onto the new regime, following the Goldenberg scandal.

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