Kenya's Environment Minister John Michuki is dead

The Late Hon. John Michuki

KiN Reports
Kenya's Minister for Environment and Kangema MP Hon. John Njoroge Michuki (80) is dead. Michuki was born in 1932 at Muguru village, Lyego Location, Kangema Division in Murang’a County.

As Minister for Transport Michuki tamed the one time extremely lawless matatu operators with great zeal. He will be remembered for returning sanity on Kenyan roads by introducing strict rules later dubbed the "Michuki rules". The rules governed among others the use of safety belts, speed controls and passenger safety in public service vehicles (PSV). In a matter of few weeks speed governors and seat belts had been fitted in all PSVs and all matatus had been painted with yellow strips while touts and drivers were introduced to uniforms and certificates of good conduct obtained from police stations.

Michuki was a no nonsense minister and a politician who easily would toil the unpopular road if need be. He once stunned the nation when he stated that the Standard raid was a government operation and added that “if you rattle a snake, prepare for the snake bite”.

As the Internal Security Minister, he went head on and tackled the Mungiki menace with unprecedented resolve.

Michuki was rushed to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi where he was admitted in a critical condition at 3am on Sunday morning. Reports have it that he died at the hospital from a heart attack after multiple organ failure.

President Kibaki said in a press statement Tuesday that Michuki was a focused public servant, a determined businessman and issue-oriented politician.

His last official function was the climate change conference in Durban from 28th. November to 9th. December 2011.