Former MP, Minister Is Dead – Family Confirms
Former Minister John Koech has died. Koech served as Minister for East African Regional Cooperation under former President Mwai Kibaki from 2006 to 2007.
He had previously served as Minister of Public Works from 1988 to 1989.
Koech is also Chepalungu’s longest-serving Member of Parliament, having served from 1979 to 1990 and again from 2003 to 2007.
Koech was born in 1946 in Olbutyo, Chepalungu, and attended Segemik Primary School before moving on to Tenwek High School for his O’ and A’ levels.
He attended Makerere University in Uganda after leaving Tenwek, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1972.
Former and longest-serving Member of Parliament for Chepalungu, who also served as the Minister for the East African Community, John Koech, has passed away.
— City Mirror (@citymirrorKE) April 8, 2025
His family confirmed that John Koech died after a long illness while receiving treatment at a Nairobi hospital.
Koech… pic.twitter.com/igS8ux3BXu
He taught high school from 1973 to 1975 before becoming an education officer from 1976 to 1979.
Early in his career as an educator, he sought to get into politics by running for the Chepalungu parliamentary seat, but finished second behind the incumbent, Kimunai Arap Soi.
He eventually won the 1979 General Election, the first since Moi became President following Jomo Kenyatta’s death.
Prior to the election, he was introduced to Moi by Kipsigis power brokers led by Isaac Salat, a long-time Assistant Minister in the President’s Office.
President Moi was new to the job and was looking for a team to work with.
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Koech was Chepalungu MP from 1979 to 1990, during which time he promoted education in Kericho and Bomet districts based on his past professional expertise.
Koech was appointed Minister for Public Works in 1988, although he only maintained the office for a year before being fired in May 1989.
Former Chepalungu MP and Minister for The East African Community Ambassador John Koech has died
— KIVIAVIANO MEDIA (@KiviavianoMedia) April 8, 2025
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The late Koech was reportedly fired because he disagreed with Moi and a few influential people in government over how he was running his ministry.
Koech’s relationship with Moi deteriorated, although he was able to secure another position inside his administration, serving as the Permanent Representative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) from 1998 to 2000.
Former MP, Minister Is Dead – Family Confirms
