Former Cabinet Minister Dalmas Otieno Dies at 80

Dalmas Anyango Otieno, former Cabinet minister and long-serving Rongo MP, has died at the age of 80.

Born in 1945 in West Kamagambo, South Nyanza, Dalmas built a career that spanned public service, private enterprise, and national politics. He began his education at Kitweru Primary School before attending Makerere University, where he earned a degree in Applied Economics. He later completed an MBA at the University of Nairobi. 

Prior to entering politics, he worked in the insurance and banking sectors, becoming the first Kenyan Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute and serving as chair of the Kenya Commercial Bank Board. Dalmas entered politics in 1988, winning the Rongo parliamentary seat under President Daniel Moi’s administration. His rise was reportedly supported by Hezekiah Oyugi, then Permanent Secretary for Internal Security. 

He was soon appointed Minister for Industry and later held other Cabinet positions, including Minister for Labour and Minister for Transport. In 1996, he was dismissed from the Cabinet after publicly opposing a sugar import directive, which he said would harm local farmers. His removal marked the first Cabinet dismissal of the multiparty era and reflected his willingness to break ranks with party policy in defence of constituency interests.

Dalmas played a key role in the 1997 constitutional reform process as co-chair of the Inter-Parties Parliamentary Group. In 2007, he joined Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and served as Minister for Public Service in the grand coalition government. Later, he launched the Kalausi movement in an effort to create an alternative political voice in Luo Nyanza, leading to political isolation in the region. Despite this, he continued to serve in national roles, including as special envoy to South Sudan.

President William Ruto described Dalmas as “sharp, progressive, and industrious,” while Deputy Chief of Staff Eliud Owalo praised his intellect and entrepreneurial focus. Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula and Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi highlighted their contributions to parliamentary debate and policy-making.

Outside politics, Dalmas was dedicated to education and local development. He founded Rongo University and Siala Technical Training Institute, and personally supported the education of over 400 students, many of them orphans. Family members, including his brother Maurice Ariyo and relative Athanasio Odhiambo, noted his quiet philanthropic efforts and commitment to academic advancement.

He was also active in community mediation, particularly after the disputed 2007 elections, where he worked alongside Kofi Annan in negotiations between Raila Odinga and then-President Mwai Kibaki. In Migori County, he was known as a respected community leader, supporting local agricultural projects and improving access to banking services.

Dalmas is being mourned in his Kangeso village home in Migori County, remembered for a political career marked by adaptability, principle, and a long-standing commitment to public service.