Ken Okoth’s last wish

“Don’t put me on life support in the event my important body organs fail” were the words the Late Kibra MP Ken Okoth told his brother, Imran, and family a few days to his death.

And on Friday around 4pm at the Nairobi Hospital, Okoth’s important body organs, unfortunately, failed, and his dying wish had to be granted.

The MP had been taken to the hospital at 8am on Thursday, July 25, in critical condition. Twelve hours later, after his health failed to improve, he was transferred to the intensive care unit wing of the medical facility.

Ken Okoth, his brother said, bravely fought, but lost the battle at 4pm Friday.

“By the time he was being taken to the ICU, he wasn’t able to utter even one word,” said Imran.

Ken Okoth, a well-loved lawmaker in his constituency and Kenya at large, bravely battled colon cancer for nearly two years.

In a previous interview with The Nation, Ken Okoth revealed that throughout 2017, when cancer symptoms were manifesting on him, he – wrongly – received treatment for ulcers and bacterial infections.

The legislator said he was even given medication to manage stress.

A correct diagnosis, however, came at the tail end of 2017. Advanced scans showed that the disease was already in stage four.

Okoth began treatment for colon cancer in early 2018.

Five months ago he flew to France, where he was treated and discharged in early July, 2019.

Colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer and colon cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine).

Its symptoms depend on the size and location of the condition. Some common symptoms include changes in bowel habits, changes in stool consistency, blood in the stool and abdominal discomfort.

-Public viewing of body-

Okoth’s body was moved to Lee Funeral Home Friday evening, where family said there will be no public viewing of the Late MP’s body on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

The constituents of Kibra, however, stormed the morgue to demand to be allowed to view the Late Okoth’s body.

Ken Okoth, a strong believer in empowering people through education, died aged 41.

He is survived by a wife and children.