Laikipia Senator GG Karuiki Dies in Nairobi

Laikipia Senator and veteran politician Godfrey Gitahi Kariuki, popularly known as G.G. Kariuki, has passed on. He died on Friday morning at a Nairobi Hospital, aged 79.

A close relative said that the first Laikipia County senator had been admitted at a city hospital after developing unnamed health complications.

GG served as a Cabinet Minister in Presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Arap Moi’s administrations.

The late Senator was part of the first Parliament in Kenya and served as a Member of Parliament for Laikipia-Nanyuki. He was re-elected to represent Laikipia West until 1983.

Kariuki was named the Assistant Minister for Lands, Settlement and Physical Planning by President Mwai Kibaki in 2010 following the enactment of constitution 2010.

The veteran politician also served as the Minister for Internal Security and Provincial Administration during Presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Arap Moi’s era, and later moved to the Ministry of Lands, Settlement and Physical Planning.

G.G. will be remembered for championing for the resettlement of the landless in Laikipia during the formative post-independence years.

He was elected in 2013 general elections as the first Senator for Laikipia County on a TNA ticket. He was defeated in the recent nominations in the race for Jubilee ticket for Laikipia Senate seat, and was not going to defend the seat.