Former Cabinet Minister and veteran politician Dalmas Otieno has passed away at the age of 80.
Family sources confirmed that he died earlier on Sunday in a Nairobi hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment.
A towering figure in Kenya’s political landscape for over three decades, Otieno had a long and distinguished career in politics and public administration.
He served as the Rongo MP and held several ministerial positions under both the Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki administrations.
He is perhaps best remembered for his instrumental role as Minister for Public Service in the Grand Coalition Government, where he spearheaded transformative reforms in the country’s civil service.
Before entering politics, he was a respected professional in the financial services sector, having studied Applied Economics at Makerere University.
Throughout his career, Otieno held key ministerial dockets, including Industrialisation, Labour, and Transport & Communications.
He was known for his intellectual depth and played a central role in digitizing government services and modernizing civil service operations.
Although he lost his parliamentary seat in 2017 to the current lawmaker Paul Abuor, Otieno remained active in national dialogue.
He was later appointed to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and made an unsuccessful bid for the Migori gubernatorial seat in 2022.
Leaders from across the political spectrum have paid tribute to his legacy.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula expressed his deep sorrow, stating, “Otieno served the nation with unwavering dedication, both as a Cabinet Minister and a long-serving Member of Parliament. His calm demeanor, intellect, and ability to bridge divides made him a voice of reason and an example of principled leadership.”
Eliud Owalo, the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Executive Office of the President, described Otieno as an “exceptionally brilliant and composed leader—articulate, visionary, and a shrewd businessman with an unwavering passion for socio-economic development.”
