Baringo Deputy Governor Charles Kipng’ok who died after developing breathing difficulties aboard a Kenya Airways plane on Wednesday night had his last public appearance during the swearing-in ceremony of President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua in Nairobi.

Kipng’ok, 66, who was in high spirits later joined other dignitaries for a luncheon at State House, Nairobi.

He also recently joined residents of Kabarnet in celebrating the Supreme Court verdict upholding the victory of Ruto and Gachagua. “Victory has finally come home. Now it’s time to settle down and fulfil all the pledges we made to the hustlers,”  Kipng’ok told the enthusiastic crowd.

Devastating loss

He assured Baringo county residents that he and his boss Benjamin Cheboi would fulfil all the election pledges they made to them.

Yesterday, Cheboi told People Daily that the cause of his deputy’s death  was yet to be established. “This is devastating loss to us as we were just preparing to start the journey of transforming our great county,” said Cheboi.

Leaders from across the political divide were yesterday united in mourning the fallen deputy governor whom they described as a very dedicated leader with the interests of the people at heart.

President William Ruto in his condolence message termed Kipng’ok as an amiable, astute and highly accomplished public servant and captain of industry with an enviable track record of success in the tea sub-sector. “His death is a big blow not only to his family, friends, Government and residents of Baringo county but to the entire country, especially the tea sub-sector where he excelled for decades before recently opting for elective politics,” said Ruto. “It is extremely unfortunate that the unforgiving hand of death has robbed our country of Hon Kipng’ok at the start of his term as Deputy Governor, a role that would have enabled him to contribute to the transformation of Baringo county,” he added.

Breathing difficulties

Born in Emom in Baringo Central sub-county, Mr Kipng’ok was alumni of the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton.

He started out as a management trainee at KTDA, rising over the years to become the CEO of Kiptagich and Kaisugu tea factories.

While unveiling Kipng’ok as his deputy in July, Cheboi termed him as a big asset who would bring in a lot of experience from the corporate world to the county. “He has a long working stint at the Kenya Tea Development Authority where he served as general manager for many years and will help us move the country forward,” said Governor Cheboi.

Kipng’ok was awarded Head of State Commendation (HSC) by the late President Mwai Kibaki for his sustainable innovation in the tea sector.   On Wednesday night, Kenya Airways confirmed that a passenger who developed breathing difficulties while boarding one of its flights had died

Kenya Airways said the passenger was pronounced dead at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) while the aircraft, headed for Mombasa, was still on the ground. “Kenya Airways PLC regrets to announce that a passenger developed breathing difficulties this evening while boarding KQ612 that was scheduled to depart for Mombasa at 1900hours.

 “The passenger was pronounced dead by medical personnel at JKIA while the aircraft was still on ground,” the national carrier said in a statement.

Baringo Deputy Governor Charles abreathing difficulties aboard a Kenya Airways plane on Wednesday night had his last public appearance on Monday where he attended the swearing in ceremony of President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua in Nairobi.

Kipng’ok, 66, who was in high spirits later joined other dignitaries for a luncheon at State House, Nairobi.

He also recently joined residents of Kabarnet in celebrating the Supreme Court verdict upholding the victory of Ruto and Gachagua. “Victory has finally come home. Now it’s time to settle down and fulfil all the pledges we made to the hustlers,”  Kipng’ok told the enthusiastic crowd.

Devastating loss

 He assured Baringo county residents that he and his boss Benjamin Cheboi would fulfil all the election pledges they made to them.

Yesterday, Cheboi told People Daily that the cause of his deputy’s death  was yet to be established. “This is devastating loss to us as we were just preparing to start the journey of transforming our great county,” said Cheboi.

 Leaders from across the political divide were yesterday united in mourning the fallen deputy governor whom they described as a very dedicated leader with the interests of the people at heart.

President William Ruto in his condolence message termed Kipng’ok as an amiable, astute and highly accomplished public servant and captain of industry with an enviable track record of success in the tea sub-sector. “His death is a big blow not only to his family, friends, Government and residents of Baringo county but to the entire country, especially the tea sub-sector where he excelled for decades before recently opting for elective politics,” said Ruto. “It is extremely unfortunate that the unforgiving hand of death has robbed our country of Hon Kipng’ok at the start of his term as Deputy Governor, a role that would have enabled him to contribute to the transformation of Baringo county,” he added.

Breathing difficulties

Born in Emom in Baringo Central sub-county, Mr Kipng’ok was alumni of the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton.

He started out as a management trainee at KTDA, rising over the years to become the CEO of Kiptagich and Kaisugu tea factories.

While unveiling Kipng’ok as his deputy in July, Cheboi termed him as a big asset who would bring in a lot of experience from the corporate world to the county. “He has a long working stint at the Kenya Tea Development Authority where he served as general manager for many years and will help us move the country forward,” said Governor Cheboi.

Kipng’ok was awarded Head of State Commendation (HSC) by the late President Mwai Kibaki for his sustainable innovation in the tea sector.   On Wednesday night, Kenya Airways confirmed that a passenger who developed breathing difficulties while boarding one of its flights had died

Kenya Airways said the passenger was pronounced dead at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) while the aircraft, headed for Mombasa, was still on the ground. “Kenya Airways PLC regrets to announce that a passenger developed breathing difficulties this evening while boarding KQ612 that was scheduled to depart for Mombasa at 1900hours.

 “The passenger was pronounced dead by medical personnel at JKIA while the aircraft was still on ground,” the national carrier said in a statement.