A sombre mood engulfed Vihiga county after news reached residents that the County Secretary Ezekiel Ayego had collapsed and died in his house on Tuesday night.

Staff working at county headquarters offices could not hold back tears when governor Wilber Ottichilo broke the news.

“It is with deep sadness that I have learned of the passing of Ezekiel Marley Ayego, who was serving as the County Secretary and Head of County Public Service in the Vihiga County Government at the time of his death,” Ottichilo announced.

The late Ayego unexpectedly passed away at his residence on Tuesday night. He had spent the better part of the day at his office and had not shown any signs of sickness. The cause of his death has not been established.

Before joining Vihiga county government, Ayego served as the principal of Vihiga Boys and Chesamisi Boys High School from where he resigned in 2018.