This archive report was first published on 1 August 2019.
On August 1, 2019, the All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi was filled with family, friends, and political leaders as they gathered to pay their respects to the late Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso.
Deputy President William Ruto, Speakers of the National Assembly and Senate Justin Muturi and Kenneth Lusaka, Cabinet secretaries, governors, and their deputies, as well as members of Parliament, were among the hundreds of mourners in attendance.
Several governors, including Mike Sonko (Nairobi), Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Charity Ngilu (Kitui), Mwangi wa Iria (Murang'a), John Nyagarama (Nyamira), Josphat Nanok (Turkana), Stephen Sang (Nandi), Samuel Tunai (Narok), and Godana Dhadho (Tana River), were also present at the service.
Ms. Ida Odinga, wife of opposition leader Raila Odinga and a former teacher of Laboso's at Kenya High School, described her as a great leader, saying that the people of Bomet had made the right choice in electing her.
Ms. Odinga shared a personal anecdote about an incident years ago when Laboso's father helped her, creating a bond between the two families.
She also expressed her sorrow over the scourge of cancer, which had taken Laboso's life.
Laboso passed away on July 29 at Nairobi Hospital due to cancer.
From the All Saints Cathedral, her body will be flown to Bomet, where it will be taken to Kandege Secondary School grounds for a funeral service before being buried at the family home on Saturday.
