Veteran Politician Mourned
Veteran Politician Gideon Konchellah, Former Kilgoris MP and Minister, Dies in Nairobi
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Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa said Konchellah had been unwell since November 2025, was admitted on May 30, 2026 after getting an infection, suffered cardiac arrest on June 12, and died at 4:00 a.m.; Ololtuaa added that his body was at Lee Funeral Home.
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Ololtuaa also said President William Ruto conveyed condolences to Konchellah’s family, and that Narok governor Patrick Ntutu and Woman Representative Rebecca Tonkei also issued condolences after learning of his death.
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Capital FM reported that Konchellah’s parliamentary career spanned multiple terms and political affiliations, naming the Party of National Unity (PNU), the United Republican Party (URP), and later the Jubilee Party.
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On the Refugee Act of 2006, Capital FM added that it replaced the colonial-era Control of Aliens Act, shifting Kenya to a “more structured and humane” framework for registering, protecting, and administering refugees.
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Standard Media said Konchellah’s first election as Kilgoris MP was in 2002 under the NARC coalition—where he beat the incumbent and current MP Julius Sunkuli of KANU—and that in the 2022 Senate race he finished a “distant third” behind Senator Ledama Ole Kina and former governor Samuel Ole Tunai.
Gideon Sitelu Konchellah, a former Cabinet minister and 19-year Member of Parliament for Kilgoris, died at 4:00 a.m. on June 13, 2026, after suffering a cardiac arrest at Nairobi Hospital. He was approximately 75 years old. People Daily confirmed his death, citing family spokesperson and Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa.
Konchellah had been unwell since November 2025 and was formally admitted on May 30, 2026, after developing an infection. He suffered the cardiac arrest on June 12. His body was moved to Lee Funeral Home. His death ends a political career that stretched across nearly two decades and multiple party affiliations in Kenya's South Rift Valley.
From Army Major to Four-Term Kilgoris MP
Before entering politics, Konchellah served as a Major in the Kenya Army Ordinance Corps at Kahawa Barracks. He first won the Kilgoris seat in 2002 under the NARC coalition, defeating KANU heavyweight Julius Sunkuli — the same man who now serves as the current Kilgoris MP. Standard Media reported he went on to win four consecutive terms, representing the constituency from 2003 to 2022.
His party affiliations shifted with Kenya's political tides. Capital FM noted he moved from NARC to the Party of National Unity (PNU), then the United Republican Party (URP), and finally the Jubilee Party. Analysts called him a "political survivor" who stayed relevant through each transition. He was known for navigating clan tensions in the volatile Trans Mara region.
Immigration Minister Who Replaced a Colonial-Era Law
Under President Mwai Kibaki, Konchellah served as Minister for Immigration and Registration of Persons from 2006 to 2007. His most lasting achievement was shepherding the Refugee Act of 2006 into law. Capital FM reported the act replaced the colonial-era Control of Aliens Act, giving Kenya a more structured and humane system for registering, protecting, and managing refugees.
During a 2006 workshop in Mombasa, Konchellah argued the new law was "15 years overdue" and essential for protecting refugee women and children. Experts in immigration policy have since credited his push for modernised passport systems and an audit of immigration contracts as laying early groundwork for Kenya's digital registration infrastructure.
2022 Senate Bid Ends in a Distant Third Place
After leaving Parliament in 2022, Konchellah contested the Narok Senate seat. It did not go well. Standard Media reported he finished a "distant third" behind winner Ledama Ole Kina, who received 135,180 votes, and runner-up Samuel Ole Tunai, who got 117,869. Konchellah's Senate loss marked the end of his electoral career, though he remained a visible figure in county politics.
Condolences Pour In Across Party Lines
President William Ruto called Konchellah a "steadfast champion" and said Kenya is "poorer for his loss," according to Radio 47. PS John Ololtuaa said Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu and Woman Representative Rebecca Tonkei also issued condolences. The tributes crossed political divides — even his long-time rival, current Kilgoris MP Julius Sunkuli, mourned him as both his "successor and predecessor."
Signs TV reported that Konchellah was seen as a key power broker between Uasin Gishu and Motanik clans in Trans Mara. He was also related to world 800m champion Bill Konchellah and Commonwealth gold medalist Patrick Konchellah, giving his family a rare dual legacy in both politics and athletics. His absence is expected to reshape coalition-building ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
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