SAMBURU, Kenya — Porro Ward Member of the County Assembly (MCA) Patrick Lerte has died while undergoing treatment at Maralal Referral Hospital, sparking an outpouring of grief across Samburu County’s political and civic circles.
Lerte’s death was confirmed on Sunday, December 28, through an internal memo issued by Samburu County Assembly Clerk Fred Lenapeer, who said the legislator passed away in the morning hours. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
According to preliminary information, the MCA had fallen ill several days before his death and had been receiving medical care at the county referral facility until he succumbed.
Family members and county officials are yet to provide further details on the illness.
Lerte was first elected to the Samburu County Assembly in the 2022 General Election on an Amani National Congress (ANC) ticket. ANC later merged with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) earlier this year, making Lerte part of the governing coalition.
Until his death, he served as the Chairperson of the County Assembly Committee on Lands and Physical Planning, a role in which colleagues say he played a central part in shaping policy debates on land use, settlement planning, and development within the largely pastoralist county.
In the memo announcing his passing, Clerk Lenapeer described Lerte as a committed leader whose loss would be deeply felt within the assembly and among residents of Porro Ward.
“Hon. Patrick Lerte served the people of Samburu with dedication and humility. His passing is a great loss to the County Assembly and to the people he represented,” Lenapeer said.
Several MCAs and county officials also paid tribute to the late legislator, describing him as a hardworking and approachable leader who consistently championed the interests of his constituents, particularly on issues of land rights and development planning.
“He was a dedicated public servant who believed in consultation and consensus. Samburu has lost a strong voice,” said one MCA, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Lerte’s death creates a vacancy in Porro Ward, which will now require a by-election in accordance with the Constitution and electoral laws, once the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is fully constituted.
The Samburu County Assembly is expected to adjourn sittings to allow members to mourn their colleague, while burial arrangements are being coordinated by the family in consultation with county leaders.
Further details regarding funeral plans and official county tributes are expected to be announced in the coming days.
