Former Kenya Cabinet Minister, Nicholas Kipyator Biwott, has died at the age of 77.
Biwott, popularly known as “Total Man”, died in Nairobi after battling a long-term illness, his personal assistant said.
In his political career Biwott helped shape Kenya’s political landscape, standing as a key aid to retired President Daniel Moi by dealing with his opposition in the post-1982 attempted coup era.
“Most of his peers hold that when the story of Moi is exhaustively told, he will occupy a number of chapters,” wrote Daily Nation.
Adding: “Even though Mr Moi had a vice president, it was an open secret that Total Man was closer to the Head of State and no one in the Cabinet dared to go against his word.
“There would be serious repercussions.”
Sources close to Biwott indicated that his health had taken a turn for the worst over the last year, and had caused him to be regularly in and out of hospital.
The death of Total Man is yet another personal loss for President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is currently campaigning across the country.
The news comes just a few of days after Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery was reported dead.
“Mr Biwott’s National Vision Party of Kenya (NVP) had endorsed Mr Kenyatta for a second term in office and he was one of the key opinion leaders he was relying on to campaign in the North Rift,” according to Daily Nation.
There has been no official comment made by President Kenyatta as of yet.
