Today in History: When Opposition Leader Collapsed and Died at JKIA

On August 14, 1992, renowned Western region politician Masinde Muliro collapsed and died at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

He reportedly collapsed while queuing at the immigration desk after arriving on a British Airways flight in economy class.

Muliro had just returned from a short trip to London, where he participated in a fundraising mission organized by the UK chapter of the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD), aimed at uniting opposition leaders ahead of the 1992 Kenyan elections.

At the time of his death, Muliro served as the vice chairman of FORD, a party through which he championed his democratic ideals. He was among the top opposition leaders, including Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Kenneth Matiba, who challenged President Daniel Arap Moi’s KANU regime, which was known for its dictatorial practices.

Masinde Muliro Dies After London Trip

Muliro was known for his outspoken nature, openly criticizing corruption, the misuse of state power, and human rights abuses.

Hours after Muliro’s death, the family physician, Dr. Arthur Obel, accompanied by senior police officers, disclosed that the politician died of cardiac arrest.

The doctor reportedly signed Muliro’s death certificate without conducting an autopsy, which sparked controversy and suspicion.

Dr. Obel later faced scrutiny for declaring the cause of death without a postmortem examination.

Also Read: Today in History: When Uhuru Labeled Mudavadi “Madimoni”

FORD Chair Jaramogi Oginga Odinga called for a thorough investigation into Muliro’s death. He questioned why a press conference was organized so quickly, hours after Muliro’s death.

Although his official cause of death was listed as a heart attack, many questioned the circumstances surrounding it.

According to Musikari Kombo, the former MP for Webuye and one of Masinde’s closest allies, the 70-year-old politician appeared fine during their flight from London to Kenya.

Kombo stated that Muliro ate well and had good interaction with other passengers. He narrated that the plane touched down shortly after 6 a.m., and as Muliro followed him in the immigration clearance process, a brief commotion ensued.

Former Webuye MP Recalls the Veteran Politician Last Moments

Muliro was seen gasping for breath as Kombo, along with other passengers and immigration officials, attempted to revive him.

“He had given me his passport to have it stamped. He was behind me. Suddenly, I saw him go down, and he never stood up again.  I have never understood what happened,” Kombo recalled.

The then Webuye MP mentioned that on their trip to London, they were on the same plane as Energy Minister Nicholas Biwott, who was an influential figure during Moi’s time. They also ran into each other at Heathrow Airport, but they flew on the plane separately. Biwott traveled in business class, while Muliro flew in economy class.

Also Read: Today in History: When Two Security Ministers Died in a Plane Crash

Biwott dismissed the speculations, confirming that he had a brief, friendly conversation with Muliro at Heathrow Airport before their flight.

He stated they boarded the plane separately and did not interact further during the trip, firmly rejecting any suggestions of foul play or a connection to Muliro’s death.

To date, Masinde Muliro’s death remains shrouded in mystery, given that he was in good health when he arrived from London, yet suddenly died at the airport.

Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.