After a long battle with cancer, Juja MP Francis Munyua Waititu alias Wakapee is dead.
The MP died on Monday at the MP Shah Hospital where he had been undergoing treatment.
He has been suffering from Brain cancer since 2017.
A family spokesperson confirmed his passing on at 10 pm Monday.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the Passing on of our Loving Dad Francis Waititu. May his soul Rest in Eternal Peace and may God grant him the divine grace,” a statement from the family read.
Waititu spent most of his time in hospital since his re-election in 2017. He was still re-elected despite being away from the political scene in the run-up to the 2017 polls.
A while after his first treatment in India, he publicly spoke of his illness and was optimistic that he was on his way to recovery.
It was he who intimated that there were at least 63 Kenyan lawmakers and senior government officials battling cancer silently.
In a past interview with the Standard, he said that he did not know he had cancer. His sister passed on in 2016 from cancer and then his other would be diagnosed with stage two Brain cancer.
Months later, the deceased decided to also get a diagnosis and this is when he found out that he had Brain cancer too.
From September 2017, he started his treatment in India and when he came back, he addressed Kenyans on the high cost of cancer treatment in India.
For eight weeks, he had spent Ksh8 million in treatment, Ksh1.8 million going to housing alone.
He had been declared cancer-free in 2018 but the tumour recurred and spread rapidly.
Leaders led by President Uhuru Kenyatta have mourned him as a progressive and trusted leader.
“We’ve sadly lost a very progressive, trusted and committed leader whose public actions always reflected the interests of his constituents.
“Throughout his fight with cancer, Hon Waititu led efforts to overcome the disease through awareness creation and support for initiatives aimed at lowering the cost of treatment in the country,” the President said.
Deputy President William Ruto also eulogized the deceased.
“Francis Munyua Waititu alias “Wakapee” was a principled, hardworking and respected leader who was above party politics. He was selfless, bold and gifted with an affable personality. We will miss his enterprising servant leadership that transformed many lives,” said Ruto.
Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo described Waititu as a longtime friend who he enjoyed great moments with.
“My sincere heartfelt condolences to the family of my late friend and also my home MP Hon. Munyua “wakapee “ was to see him this afternoon and I felt a bye bye coming from him. I treasure the fond memories of over 30 yrs of our friendship. Fare thee well my friend,” Kabogo eulogized.