Lamu mourns death of second nominated MCA in a year
Nominated MCA, Rebecca Wambui Wainaina, 35. She died on Thursday, December 26,2024 while receiving treatment at Mombasa's Pandya Hospital Intensive Care Unit.
Lamu County is in mourning after losing yet another member of the county assembly this year.
Rebecca Wambui Wainaina, 35, an MCA nominated by the Safina party, died on Thursday night, December 26, while receiving treatment at a Mombasa hospital.
Ms Wainaina had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Lamu County Assembly Speaker Azhar Ali Mbarak confirmed the death on Friday, adding that she had been admitted to hospital earlier in the week after falling ill.
Two days ago, the MCA was moved to the ICU after her condition deteriorated, only to be pronounced dead.
"I am sad to confirm that Hon Rebecca Wambui Wainaina has passed away. She passed away on Thursday evening while undergoing treatment in Mombasa. May her soul rest in peace," said Mr Mbarak.
Lamu Deputy Speaker Paul Kimani Njuguna, who is also the MCA for Mkunumbi elected on the Safina ticket, described the death as untimely.
"She was a colleague and a friend who helped our party grow. Her death is so sudden after a short illness. Our thoughts are with her family and all those who knew her at this difficult time. May she rest in peace," Mr Kimani said.
This is the second death of an MCA nominee in Lamu this year.
In May, Zahara Shee, an ODM nominated MCA, died.
The late nominated MCA, Rebecca Wambui Wainaina.
At the time of her death, Shee was also a member of the ODM Women's League National Executive Council (NEC).
In his condolence message to Ms Wainaina's family, Lamu County Assembly Chief Protocol and Liaison Officer Hussein Miji described her as a dedicated and promising leader who fought for the rights of women and people living with disabilities (PLWDs) not only in Lamu but across the country.
The mother of three was born in Mpeketoni in 1989.
Mr Miji said Ms Wainaina often tabled motions in the House on issues of insecurity, which has been a major challenge in Lamu in recent years, with the intention of finding a lasting solution.
"Her motions in the House were always on issues of insecurity and safety of her people. She was also a defender of the rights of people with disabilities, women and other vulnerable groups in society. Her death has left a void that will be difficult to fill," said Mr Miji.
Former Lamu nominated MCA Jane Ndung'u described Ms Wainaina as "a resourceful, hardworking and politically astute young woman and leader full of potential".
Ms Wainaina's death also comes just four months after that of Deputy Governor Raphael Munyua Ndung'u.
The late Munyua, 46, died on 6 September while receiving treatment in Nairobi.
He had been admitted to intensive care with a severe headache.
Since then, Lamu has been without a deputy governor after Lamu Governor Issa Timamy's efforts to replace the late Munyua with Agriculture and Food Security County Executive James Gichu failed. The MCAs have twice rejected his nomination.
