Dalmas Otieno Anyango, the veteran politician and former Cabinet minister, will be buried on 2nd October in his home village of Kangeso, Migori County, his family has announced.
Mark Rachuonyo, the family spokesman, confirmed the date after a meeting in Nairobi. “Plans are under way for his send-off. He was not only a family man but also a statesman whose service touched many lives,” he told reporters outside the Lee Funeral Home, where the body is being preserved.
Otieno died at his Nairobi home on Sunday aged 80.
His death has drawn tributes from across Kenya’s political spectrum. President William Ruto described him as “sharp, progressive, and industrious,” adding: “He was a statesman whose ideas and leadership will continue to shape generations.”
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga also praised him. “He was a committed public servant who believed in the power of effective and efficient public service as a cornerstone of good governance,” Mr Odinga said in a statement.
Otieno’s career in public life spanned decades. First elected as Rongo MP in 1988, he reclaimed the seat in 2007 and again in 2013. He served in several ministerial roles, including Industrialisation, Labour, and Transport. Under President Mwai Kibaki, he was appointed Minister of State for Public Service.
Beyond politics, he built an accomplished career in finance and economics after studying Applied Economics at Makerere University.
On Thursday, local leaders and former colleagues gathered in Nairobi to pay respects, recalling a man who, in their words, “led with clarity and vision.”
For Migori County, and for Kenya, the burial will mark the farewell of a leader whose life’s work left a mark on both local politics and national governance.
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