Members of Parliament (MPs) on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, paid glowing tributes to former Cabinet minister Oloo Aringo, who died on Friday, November 1, 2024, at a hospital in Nairobi.
Aringo, who is credited with developing the Parliamentary Service Commission in 2001, was eulogized on the floor of the house with members of parliament noting the contributions he made during his 25 years in the August house.
“His death is a profound loss to his family, community, and the entire nation, particularly parliament, where he served with unwavering dedication,” Alego-Usonga MP Sam Atandi said as he noted that only Aringo and himself had been able to be reelected for a second term in the constituency in Siaya County.
Aringo served in the late President Daniel Moi’s cabinet for 15 years, holding dockets such as Information and Broadcasting before he was moved to Environment, Labour, Education, and finally, the Ministry of Employment.
Aringo’s humour
Aringo is credited with sponsoring bills in Parliament that turned Moi, Maseno, and Egerton universities into public institutions, having studied at Maseno University, then known as Siriba Teachers College, before enrolling for a degree in history, economics, and politics and attaining first-class honours from the University of Nairobi in 1969.
“His contributions were always well-researched and laced with great humour,” Atandi added.
“Parliamentary reforms he initiated in conjunction with his reform-minded colleagues through the PSC bill of 1999, which among other things established the Parliamentary Service Commission in 2001, cemented the independence of parliament, which before then used to be administered as a department in the office of the president,” Atandi said.
On his part, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo said that Aringo’s education reforms had helped to bring practical lessons into classrooms.
“For those of us who were pioneers of the 8-4-4 system, we thank Oloo Aringo for a lot of things,” Amollo said.
Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie, alias KJ, also reminisced that the late minister served in parliament with his father, who was an MP for Kandara.
“It is a great tree that has fallen in the name of Peter Oloo Aringo,” Kiarie said.
Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo said that Aringo’s legacy would continue, noting that he epitomized loyalty and friendship during the Moi era.
“His praise and dear friendship with Moi epitomized loyalty to the party and a leader,” Oundo said.
Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo challenged members of parliament to celebrate leaders in their lifetime.
“We need to put a roll of honour for members when they are still living. I wish he was alive to hear us saying all these beautiful things about him,” Odhiambo noted.
Maziwa ya Nyayo
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba remarked that as a child, she watched Oloo Aringo on TV with admiration.
“Every time there was a presidential event, I could see him in the presidential entourage, and he walked majestically like a handsome man. There are men who walk like they are not handsome even when they are handsome,” Wamuchomba said.
Adding: “Those were the days when we received milk in primary school (Maziwa ya Nyayo), and we enjoyed every bit of it. It is unfortunate that even now, there are children attending school without a single meal.”
