Former ECK chairman Kivuitu dies

By Cyrus Ombati
NAIROBI, KENYA:
Former Chairman of the now defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya Samuel Kivuitu has died.

Mr Kivuitu died on Monday night at 10 pm at the MP Shah Hospital in Nairobi where he had been admitted for almost a week.Mr Kivuitu, 74, has been battling throat cancer for the last two years. In December, he was admitted at a Nairobi hospital for treatment.Kivuitu’s wife, son and brother were at the MP Shah Hospital on Tuesday morning for preparations to transfer the body to the Lee Funeral Home. The family will issue a statement later.Dr H.R Khoda said Kivuitu was a private patient referred journalists to a cardiologist, Dr Kasyoki who was the former ECK chair personal doctor for further information on his death Kivuitu’s death comes seven days before the March 4 General Election.

Kivuitu was appointed to ECK boss by former President Daniel Moi to replace Zacheous Chesoni who was the head of the Electoral commission during Kenya's 1992 General Election.Kivuitu served as elections boss in 1997, 2002 and also oversaw the constitution referendum in 2005.He was reappointed as ECK chair by President Kibaki ahead of the 2007 general election.Kivuitu went to school in Uganda (1959–61) and Tanzania (1961–65). He was elected MP for Parklands in 1969 and served until 1974. He served in the same area MP between 1983 and 1988.Kivuitu, during an interview with KTN’s Joe Ageyo said he had been treated for cancer of the esophagus and that he was declared cancer free by Kenyan and British doctors.