Veteran Journalist and Former MP Otieno Mak’Onyango Dies After Long Fight for Justice

Veteran journalist and former Alego Usonga Member of Parliament Otieno Mak’Onyango has died, bringing to an end a life marked by political struggles, years of detention and a long battle for compensation over violations of his rights.

Mak’Onyango died on Sunday, October 25, 2026, while receiving treatment at a Nairobi hospital. His death was announced by the current Alego Usonga MP, Sam Atandi, who mourned the former legislator.

Before joining politics, Mak’Onyango worked as a journalist at the East African Standard, now known as The Standard newspaper.

His career took a major turn in August 1982 when he was arrested following the failed military coup against the government of former President Daniel arap Moi.

He was accused of involvement in the attempted coup and spent about four years in detention. During court proceedings, he said he had been tortured while in custody and that his arrest had brought his journalism career to an abrupt end.

Mak’Onyango was among several Kenyans detained during the crackdown that followed the coup attempt, including former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

After his release, he turned to politics and was elected MP for Alego Usonga in the 1992 General Election on a Ford-Kenya ticket.

His victory ended the long parliamentary stay of Peter Oloo Aringo, who had represented the constituency since 1974.

However, Mak’Onyango lost the seat in the 1997 General Election when Aringo returned to Parliament.

His struggle for justice continued long after his political career ended.

In 2003, he sued the government over his arrest, detention and prosecution, seeking compensation for the violation of his fundamental rights.

The case took years before the High Court ruled in his favour.

In June 2012, Justice Kalpana Rawal awarded him Sh20 million in compensation after finding that his rights had been violated.

But the court victory did not bring the relief he had hoped for.

In a 2014 report, The Standard described how Mak’Onyango continued to struggle with poverty and the cost of medication despite winning the case. The compensation had reportedly remained unpaid at the time.

His death closes a chapter in the life of a man whose experiences reflected the hardships faced by many Kenyans detained during the Moi era.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19gEJ3k6Qk/

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