Life

Burial date of Jomo Kenyatta’s Minister James Osogo announced

By Nyaboga Kiage August 24th, 2023

Left: The late James Osogo, who was a Cabinet Minister in President Jomo Kenyatta's government. Right: Family members huddle around Omar Osogo, the son of the late James Osogo, as he addresses the media at Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu on August 15, 2023 following their father's death. James Osogo who was the first Budalang’i MP died aged 91. PHOTO | ONDARI OGEGA

The late former Cabinet Minister James Osogo, who until his death was among the four surviving ministers who served during Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s era, will be buried on Saturday, September 2, 2023.

In a statement, Osogo’s family has said the burial of the former Budalang’i MP will take place at his Bukani home in Port Victoria in a ceremony that will begin at 9am.

“A requiem mass will be held at the Holy Family Basilica on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, commencing at 2:30pm. The cortege will depart The Aga Khan Hospital Mortuary on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at 8am,” the family said.

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Osogo died on August 15, 2023 at The Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu at the age of 91.

Nairobi News understands that Osogo has been in and out of hospital in Kisumu County for the last two years.

Osogo was elected to the House of Representatives for Ruwambua, which is now known as Budalang’i Constituency in 1963.

After the election, Osogo became the first African Minister for Information and Broadcasting in Jomo Kenyatta’s government. This was just after Kenya had gained independence.

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Later on, Osogo served in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In 1978, after the death of President Kenyatta, former President Daniel Arap Moi (now deceased) picked Osogo as the deputy leader of Government Business in Parliament. Osogo was subsequently appointed Minister for Agriculture and finally Minister for Livestock.

With his death, only three Ministers from Jomo Kenyatta’s government now remain alive. The three are Nathan Munoko, who was the Minister for Public Works, Isaac Omolo Okero who was the Minister for Power and Communication and Daniel Mutinda who served as the Minister for Information and Broadcasting.

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