Oloo Aringo, a former cabinet minister and Member of Parliament for Alego Usonga, has died.
The news was confirmed on Friday, November 1, by current MP Sam Atandi, who shared the announcement on Twitter.
Aringo passed away while receiving treatment at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi.
“It is with deep sadness that I announce the sudden passing of Oloo Aringo, former Cabinet Minister and MP for Alego Usonga,” Atandi wrote.
“He passed on this evening at Aga Khan Hospital.”
Aringo was a significant figure in Kenyan politics, serving as MP for Alego Constituency during two separate terms: first from 1974 to 1988, and then from 1997 to 2002.
He is best remembered for his role as Minister for Education under President Daniel Arap Moi, where he was instrumental in implementing the 8-4-4 education system a major reform that transformed Kenya’s educational landscape.
He also championed the establishment of Moi, Maseno, and Egerton universities as public institutions, and promoted initiatives to launch technical institutes across the country, significantly contributing to the development of education in Kenya.
Eliud Owalo, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Executive Office of the President, paid tribute to Aringo, describing him as “an eloquent and intelligent Cabinet Minister and a passionate debater during his time as MP.”
He expressed shock at the news of Aringo’s passing, recalling a recent meeting where they discussed national development issues.
“Earlier this year, on January 14, I visited Hon. Oloo Aringo at his Nairobi residence, and we had a lengthy conversation on various topics,” Owalo noted.
Aringo had a distinguished academic background, having attended St. Mary’s School in Yala before earning a first-class bachelor’s degree in history, economics, and politics from the University of Nairobi.
He later received a scholarship from the Commonwealth to pursue a Master’s Degree in international comparative education at the University of Toronto in Canada.
Aringo’s contributions to Kenyan politics and education will be remembered by many, and he leaves behind a lasting legacy in public service.
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