Former Rongo Member of Parliament Dalmas Otieno has died.
Otieno has been a key figure in Kenya’s political landscape, including during the Kibaki era and was a long-serving Member of Parliament.
The news has been shared by his close family, who told The Kenya Times that the former MP was receiving treatment in Nairobi.
He passed away on Sunday, September 7.
The former politician, who also served as Minister of State for Public Service among other senior government roles, was widely respected for his firm leadership and contributions to Kenya’s development agenda.
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The Career and Education of Dalmas Otieno
Born on April 19, 1945, Otieno pursued his higher education at Makerere University and later became a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute of London, where he sharpened his financial and managerial expertise.
Before beginning a career in politics, the former MP built a strong reputation in the financial sector.
He served as Chairman of Kenya Commercial Bank and as Treasurer of the Kenyatta University Council, roles in which he combined leadership with strategic oversight to strengthen financial institutions.
Political Career
Otieno’s political journey began in 1988, when he was elected as Member of Parliament for Rongo Constituency under KANU.
Over the years, he went on to hold several influential cabinet positions, including Minister for Industrialization and Minister for Transport.
During the Grand Coalition Government (2008–2013), he was appointed Minister of State for Public Service, where he championed wide-ranging reforms in the civil service aimed at improving efficiency, accountability, and professionalism.
In 2014, he founded Kalausi, a political movement that sought to provide alternative leadership in South Nyanza and challenge ODM’s dominance.
Although he did not succeed in subsequent elections, his push for political pluralism cemented his reputation as a bold and independent leader.
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Public Service and Recognition
Dalmas Otieno was later appointed Vice-Chairperson of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, where he worked until 2022, contributing to policy frameworks that shaped Kenya’s public sector compensation.
In recognition of his decades-long contribution to Kenya’s development, Rongo University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Arts degree in 2025.
Family and Personal Life
Dalmas Otieno was also family man who married three wives and had several children.
One of his wives, Jane Otieno, passed away in February 2024.
His son Isaiah Otieno, 23, was killed on May 13, 2008 when the Bell 206 helicopter chartered by BC Hydro crashed on a residential street in Cranbrook, landing on top of him.
The accident occurred while he was walking to the post office to mail letters to family and friends. At the time, his father revealed that he had spoken to him by telephone just an hour before he died.
Three men in the helicopter were also killed instantly.
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