NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Livestock and Fisheries Development Minister Joseph Kivuva Munyao has died at the age of 85.
Munyao passed away on Saturday afternoon, November 22, 2025, while undergoing treatment at a Nairobi hospital, family sources confirmed.
Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior led leaders in mourning the long-serving politician, describing him as a principled public servant whose dedication to national development and grassroots upliftment left a lasting mark.
“His contribution to leadership and development will be remembered with great respect. May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may his family find strength during this difficult time,” Governor Kilonzo said in a statement.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka also paid tribute, calling Munyao a humble and disciplined statesman whose quiet influence steadied many in the political arena.
“Joseph was a quiet yet powerful presence… humble, disciplined, and always placing the service of others above himself. His presence anchored every room he entered,” Kalonzo said.
Political Career
Munyao represented Mbooni Constituency in three non-consecutive terms, beginning with a by-election victory in 1975.
He lost the seat in 1979, reclaimed it in 1983 under KANU, and later returned to Parliament in 2002 under the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) before being appointed Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development in President Mwai Kibaki’s administration.
He served in the Cabinet between 2003 and 2007, where he is credited with strengthening livestock policies, improving disease control systems, and advancing rural infrastructure in pastoral regions.
Munyao was also a key figure in Kenya’s transition to multi-party politics, having co-founded the Democratic Party alongside Kibaki in 1991.
Early Life
Born in Makueni County, Munyao attended Kibauni Primary, Makueni Intermediate, and Machakos School between 1958 and 1961.
He began his career as a bank clerk with Standard Bank (now Standard Chartered) before joining the provincial administration as an accountant in the Office of the President.
Between 1969 and 1972, he served as a financial attaché at Kenya’s embassy in Moscow.
Legacy
Munyao’s political life bridged both the single-party KANU era and Kenya’s multi-party transformation.
He is remembered for his contributions to livestock sector reforms and his work in expanding rural development projects during his time in Cabinet.
Funeral arrangements will be communicated by the family.
