Malava MP Moses Malulu Injendi, who died on Monday, February 17, has been eulogised by his constituents as a beacon of unity and a champion of high education standards.
The lawmaker, who died while undergoing treatment at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi where he was hospitalised a month ago, was also described as a development-oriented leader.
His death occurred just a day after that of his elder brother, Samuel. The elder Injendi passed away at the Kakamega General Hospital on February 16.
Mr Injendi was serving his third term as an MP, having served continuously since 2013 upon replacing the late Soita Shitanda who had relinquished the seat for a stab at the Kakamega governorship.
Mr Injendi was first elected to parliament on a Maendeleo Democratic Party (MDP) ticket in 2013 before he contested as a Jubilee Party candidate in 2017 and later on, flew the flag of the Amani National Congress (ANC) party in 2022.
He served as the Vice Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Education and Research at the National Assembly.
Tributes pour in after Speaker confirms passing of MP Malulu Injendi
Born 57 years ago, Mr Injendi attended Lugusi Primary School from 1974 to 1981 when he sat for his Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) before proceeding to Mukumu Boys High School for the O' level education and later joined St Peter’s Mumias Boys High School for his 'A' levels.
His sister, Margaret Mukoya, rued losing her elder brother who took up the role of a father figure at a tender age following the death of their parents.
"He raised us all in the correct manner and loved us equally. He became our father and his wife became our mother because our parents died while we were still very young," said Ms Mukoya.
Ms Mukoya last visited her brother on January 11 where she discovered that his health had deteriorated.
"He told me he had a toothache which required treatment. And so he travelled to Nairobi but the next time I went to visit him in hospital where he was admitted I found him in a bad state,” she explained.
Mr Injendi’s primary school teacher, Peter Masai, said the MP went through his education life with a lot of difficulties after his father, Injendi Muchina, who was the then area Assistant Chief, died.
"He was a bright boy who always led in his class despite the challenges he faced. He led his class in the national exams with 11 points out of the total 54 points," said Mr Masai.
After completing high school, the young Injendi proceeded to Egerton University in 1991 for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Sociology.
In 1996, he graduated with a Master of Arts (Sociology) at the University of Nairobi. He died while pursuing a PhD at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in South Africa.
Mr Paul Shitanda, Injendi's primary schoolmate and a high school principal, said the legislator’s leadership had lifted the standards of education in the Malava sub-county.
"We were together at Lugusi Primary School in 1974 and completed in 1981. He led our class with 11 points. We parted ways after joining different secondary schools, but we continued to interact," said Mr Shitanda.
He said through Mr Injendi’s leadership, Malava started sending students to the university.
"He improved infrastructure in schools, allocated bursary funds to all applicants, and supported teachers with academic programmes. Today, we have over 1,000 students proceeding to the university," he said.
Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) from Malava described the MP as a man who united all the MCAs in Malava at a time majority of the MPs in Kakamega County conflicted with their ward representatives.
Manda-Shibanga ward Representative David Kivishi, Kevin Mahelo of Butali-Chegulo, and Geoffrey Sikolia of Chemuche ward said that the MP got them to speak one language of development and better education regardless of their political affiliations.
"He was a peace-loving leader and we pray that his funeral ceremony will remain peaceful. We don't want to witness violent incidents like the ones we have been seeing in other areas," said Mr Kivishi.
Abasonje clan chairman John Jaluo, 96, announced that the MP’s elder brother who died a day before him will be buried on Saturday while the legislator will be laid to rest on March 4 pending government approval.
"Each one of them must be accorded his burial ceremony. We shall bury the two in the order of their deaths. Since the elder son died first, we shall bury him first," said Mr Jaluo.
Mr Jaluo called on the people of Malava to remain patient throughout the mourning period until they find another MP.
Some of the residents urged President William Ruto to fast-track the completion of several projects initiated by the national government in Malava in honour of their departed lawmaker.
Some of the projects include Samitsi-Kimang'eti Road, the deployment of a new deputy county commissioner to the newly created Kabras sub-county, and the construction of the proposed Malava Medical Training College.
Butali-Chegulo Ward representative Kevin Mahelo said that those were Mr Injendi’s priority projects.
"We also urge the IEBC selection panel to move fast and put commissioners in office so that areas that are lacking representation can have new leaders. We have joined the team of 'political orphans' and we wouldn't want to remain in this state for long," said Mr Mahelo.
