
The late Minister shakes hands with President Mwai Kibaki after he was sworn in at State House, Nairobi
Kipkalya Kiprono Kones served in President Mwai Kibaki’s Cabinet for a mere 57 days before his untimely death in a plane crash on June 10, 2008, at the age of 56. His short tenure makes it challenging to pinpoint a specific agenda he pursued that would contribute to the legacy of Kenya’s third President.
However, an examination of the Hansard—the official record of Parliament’s proceedings—dated June 11, 2008, sheds light on a politician known for approaching his responsibilities with remarkable zeal and determination.
Kones, a seasoned political figure, represented Bomet Constituency from 1988 to 2008, with only a brief hiatus from 2002 to 2007, during which he served as a nominated MP. His entry into Kibaki’s Cabinet came through the power-sharing agreement that birthed the Government of National Unity following the tumultuous 2007 general election and its ensuing violence.
On April 14, 2008, President Kibaki announced a coalition government with 40 ministers and 57 assistant ministers, and Kones was assigned the Ministry of Roads and Public Works—a portfolio he had previously overseen during President Daniel arap Moi’s administration.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga, eulogizing Kones in Parliament, described him as a dependable leader. “Before the dissolution of the Eighth Parliament, he had served as my Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Roads, Public Works and Housing.
He had vast experience in the ministry, which enabled us to implement key reforms,” Odinga remarked. He further noted that Kones had visited the Prime Minister’s office shortly after his Cabinet appointment to outline his vision and plans for the ministry, leaving a distinctive “thumbprint” on its operations.
One of Kones’ final assignments was accompanying President Kibaki to the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) in Japan from May 28 to 30, 2008.
During this event, Kibaki championed Kenya’s tourism sector, advocating for direct flights between Kenya and Japan. Shortly after, Kones represented Kibaki alongside Odinga at the World Economic Forum in South Africa, earning praise for his contributions and for leading a well-prepared Kenyan delegation.
Colleagues from across the political spectrum lauded Kones for his charisma and resolve. Beth Mugo, then Dagoretti MP and Minister for Public Health, recounted his ability to foster friendships even with political adversaries.
Sally Kosgei, Minister for Higher Education and former Head of Civil Service under Moi, described him as a brilliant communicator whose laughter could dissolve tension in the most difficult situations.
Kones’ political journey was as colorful as it was turbulent. Born and educated in Kenya’s Rift Valley, he completed his A-levels at Cardinal Otunga High School before joining James Finlay Tea Company as a supervisor.
His interest in politics blossomed there, leveraging his eloquence and courage to gain a foothold in public life. After an unsuccessful bid for the Bomet parliamentary seat in 1983, he secured the position in 1988 following the death of Isaac Salat, a powerful incumbent.
Under President Moi’s administration, Kones held various ministerial roles, including Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Minister in the Office of the President, and Minister for Public Works and Housing.
His loyalty to Moi wavered in the early 2000s, leading to brief associations with opposition movements before aligning himself with Simeon Nyachae’s FORD-People in the 2002 elections, where he served as Nyachae’s running mate. Although he lost his parliamentary seat to Nick Salat that year, he was later nominated as an MP by FORD-People and rejoined government as an Assistant Minister under Kibaki.
Kones was a polarizing figure, known for his fiery rhetoric and populist policies. His opposition to family planning initiatives, framed as a push for equitable resource distribution, earned both criticism and support. He was also implicated in tribal clashes in the Rift Valley during the 1990s, a blemish on his legacy.
Despite these controversies, Kones remained a magnetic personality. His ability to command attention, coupled with his fearless approach to politics, earned him admiration and notoriety in equal measure. His death, alongside Assistant Minister Lorna Laboso in the 2008 crash, marked the end of a career that had shaped the political landscape of the Rift Valley and beyond.
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