On this day in 2016, Nakuru bid farewell to one of its most iconic political veterans, Mark Mwithaga. A man of many “firsts,” Mwithaga achieved the extraordinary feat of being the first Kenyan elected to Parliament while behind bars, winning the Nakuru Town seat in 1974.
His legacy as a fiery legislator was cemented by his role as the vice-chair of the 1975 J.M. Kariuki murder probe, a position that led to his imprisonment on trumped-up charges. Passing away at 79, Mwithaga’s life mirrored the resilience of the city he loved. Today, we remember him as a cornerstone of Nakuru’s political identity and a relentless champion for justice.
