Ruto to attend burial of former Cabinet Minister Koech

The late former Cabinet Minister John Koech will be laid to rest on Tuesday at his rural home in Sitima, Kongasis Ward, Chepalungu Constituency.

Koech, who also served as Member of Parliament for Chepalungu, passed away aged 79 on April 8, 2025 at a Nairobi hospital.

The family said the funeral service will take place at Olbutyo Boys High School grounds. President William Ruto is expected to attend the burial.

Former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto urged leaders and mourners to conduct themselves with decorum to honour Koech’s memory.

“In Chepalungu, we expect a peaceful ceremony to give the former Cabinet Minister his due respect. We do not want to witness any heckling or booing, as the late MP was a man of peace,” he said.

“Everything is proceeding smoothly, and we anticipate a dignified send-off befitting his status. He was a calm man, and during his tenure, we experienced unparalleled peace and development, particularly in education and improvements to the road network,” he added.

Before his election to Parliament, Koech worked as a high school teacher from 1973 to 1975 after graduating in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Makerere University in Uganda.

He was later employed as a government education officer in 1976, a position he held until he joined politics.

Koech served as the Chepalungu MP from 1979 until 1997, when he was unseated by Isaac Ruto, who would later become Bomet County’s first governor.

During the 2002 General Election, Koech recaptured the seat but was again defeated by Ruto in 2007.

In 2017, the former Cabinet minister vied for the Bomet governor seat but lost to the late Dr Joyce Laboso.

Koech served as the Minister of Public Works from 1988 to 1989 under President Daniel Moi.

He was the Minister for East African Regional Cooperation from 2006 to 2007 under President Mwai Kibaki.

Koech worked as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Permanent Representative from 1998 to 2000.

In 1990, his relationship with Moi and Kanu deteriorated, resulting in his expulsion from the party, which was the only political outfit at the time.

A by-election was held, and Kimunai Arap Soi was elected to succeed Koech.