KAKAMEGA, Kenya — Veteran Kenyan legislator Daniel Lyula Khamasi, a former Member of Parliament for Shinyalu Constituency in Kakamega County, has died at the age of 79 after a prolonged illness, family and county leaders confirmed on Tuesday, December 30, 2025.
Khamasi passed away at a Nairobi hospital at approximately 4:00 am, where he had been receiving treatment for complications related to diabetes and high blood pressure, his nephew Hillary Amboso said.
Khamasi first entered elective politics in 1997 when he was elected to represent Shinyalu in the National Assembly on a FORD–Kenya ticket. He was re-elected in 2002 under the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) during the wave of political reforms that marked a new era in Kenyan governance.
During his decade in Parliament, Khamasi was known for his active participation in debates and focus on development initiatives in his constituency.
“He was a dedicated servant whose contribution to Shinyalu will be remembered,” Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa said in a condolence message, describing Khamasi as a committed leader who championed the interests of his people.
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Despite his long tenure, Khamasi lost his seat in the 2007 elections to Charles Lilechi Lugano of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), ending his two consecutive terms in Parliament.
A season of loss for Western Kenya
Khamasi’s passing comes amid a somber period for Western Kenya’s political fraternity. The region has recently mourned the deaths of several prominent figures, including former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, who died in a road accident, and former Likuyani MP Enock Kibunguchy, who succumbed to illness earlier in December.
Funeral arrangements for Khamasi are expected to be announced by his family in the coming days as tributes continue to pour in from across the political divide.
Leaders, colleagues, and residents have expressed condolences to the bereaved family and the people of Shinyalu for the loss of a respected public servant.
