Former powerful Cabinet Minister and long-serving Rongo legislator, Dr. Dalmas Otieno Anyango, has passed away at the age of 80, his family confirmed to The Standard. His passing on Sunday, September 7, closes the chapter on a long and impactful career that straddled Kenya’s transition from the one-party era to modern multiparty politics. Recognised for his towering stature both physically and politically, he earned the popular nicknames ‘Wuod Bade Dongo and Tiga Ngute Bor.

Born on April 19, 1945, in Kangeso village in Migori County, Dr. Otieno’s early life was marked by a commitment to education and professional development. He attended St. Joseph’s High School Rapogi and Strathmore School before furthering his studies at Makerere University, where he graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Economics.

Dr. Otieno’s professional career commenced in the insurance sector, where he served as Accounts Manager at Insurance Agency Management from 1971 to 1982. He became a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute, London, in 1979, showcasing his expertise. His career further diversified into senior roles, including Chair and Director of Kenya Commercial Bank from 1982 to 1985, and Treasurer of the Kenyatta University Council from 1983 to 1987. Later, he chaired Tasley Consultants from 1998 to 2001. Eliud Owalo, Deputy Chief of Staff, remembered him as a pioneer entrepreneur in both the insurance and banking sectors, highlighting his shrewd business acumen.

His political journey began in 1988 with his election as Member of Parliament for Rongo. In the same year, he was appointed Minister for Industrialisation, a portfolio he held until 1991. He subsequently served as Minister of Labour and Human Resource Development in 1991, and later as Minister for Transport from 1991 to 1996, demonstrating his versatility in public service under the KANU regime.

During Kenya’s turbulent multiparty era, Dr. Otieno played a key role in political reforms and was a notable member of the Inter-Parties Parliamentary Group (IPPG) in the mid-1990s. He made a significant return to Parliament in 2007 on an ODM ticket, aligning himself with Raila Odinga during a hotly contested election. Following the post-election violence and the formation of the coalition government, Dr. Otieno was appointed Minister of State for Public Service in April 2008 under former President Mwai Kibaki.

He successfully retained his Rongo seat in the 2013 election. However, he faced challenges in subsequent attempts, including a 2017 independent bid after a fallout with ODM. In 2014, he attempted to form his own political party, Kalausi (meaning whirlwind), as a reformist movement in South Nyanza, a move that reportedly strained his relations with ODM and contributed to his political decline. Despite these political setbacks, he remained respected as an independent-minded politician, often going against the grain of mainstream party politics. Analysts often described him as a leader who valued principle over populism, and he was noted as one of the Kenya African National Union (KANU) leaders from Nyanza who survived the Odinga wave.

Dr. Otieno’s personal life experienced its share of tragedy. In 2008, he suffered the loss of his 23-year-old son, Isaiah Otieno, in Canada due to a helicopter accident. Last year, his wife Jane Otieno passed away on January 21. He is survived by his wife Dorothy Okello, and children Lillian and Eddie, among other family members.

Following his demise, tributes poured in from national leaders. President William Ruto hailed Dr. Otieno as a