First Yatta MP Gedion Mutiso dead at 91

Gedion Munyao Mutiso, the first elected Member of Parliament of Yatta constituency in Machakos County is dead.

“Mutiso wa Yatta”, as he was popularly known, is famed for his labour rights activism in the 1960s, fighting for equality and equity in the labour and employment of Africans.

Mutiso deputized the late Tom Mboya as the Deputy Secretary General of the Kenya Federation of Laborers.

The veteran politician previously served in the Military as a Corporal where he left on compassionate grounds, citing inhumane treatment of Africans under the British regime.

Born on March 31, 1932, Mutiso had actively participated in politics since 1955. He is known for having stood firm against oath-taking in 1969 and represented Kenya in the Africa Trade Union Confederation.

The Confederation was instrumental in uniting the Kenya African National Union (KANU) and Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU) parties which steered Kenya to independence. Mutiso took the fall for the alleged coup of 1971.

Mutiso was accused of sedition and later sentenced to serve nine years and six months at the Naivasha Maximum Prison.

Upon his release, he was re-elected by the people of Yatta in 1983 as a member of Parliament where he served until 1997.

During this period, he also served as an Assistant Minister in the ministries of Home Affairs, Education, Health, Agriculture, Lands and Housing.

Mutiso is the longest-serving MP of Yatta and led a quiet life while maintaining active involvement in community projects and the Catholic church until he fell ill in late 2022.

He is survived by his wife Mrs Pauline Mutiso, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.