NAIROBI, Kenya – Siaya Governor James Orengo has paid tribute to Julius Maina Kago, describing him as an unsung hero of Kenya’s Second Liberation whose courage helped shape the country’s struggle for multiparty democracy.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Orengo said Kago died on July 7, 2026, at King David Hospital in Ngong at the age of 75, noting the significance of his passing on the 36th anniversary of the Saba Saba movement.
Orengo recalled that Kago played a pivotal role during the pro-democracy struggle in November 1991, when the then KANU government had banned public gatherings.
According to Orengo, Kago risked his life by driving opposition leaders, including the late Martin Shikuku, Masinde Muliro, Phillip Gachoka, and Orengo himself, to the historic Kamukunji Grounds for a rally that became a defining moment in Kenya’s push for political pluralism.
He said the Toyota Stout pickup Kago drove, then owned by his employer Hezekiel Gachu, became a lasting symbol of resistance against authoritarian rule.
“That iconic Toyota Stout Pickup became an enduring symbol of defiance, resistance, and the unyielding quest for multiparty democracy,” Orengo said.
The governor noted that Kago later worked his way to owning his own vehicle, describing his journey as a reflection of resilience and determination.
Orengo also said he was the only surviving passenger who rode in the back of the historic pickup during the Kamukunji rally, making Kago’s death particularly personal.
“As the sole survivor of those who rode in the back of that historic pickup into the eye of the storm, I feel the weight of his departure deeply,” he said.
He extended condolences to Kago’s family, friends and fellow democracy activists, describing the deceased as a patriot who risked everything so that Kenyans could enjoy greater political freedoms.
“We have lost a patriot who stood in the spotlight of danger so that Kenyans could breathe the air of freedom,” Orengo said.
The governor pledged to continue advocating for the democratic ideals that Kago believed in.
“Mzee Kago wished for nothing less than a completely liberated, fair Kenya. I promise him, and I promise you, that I will continue to fight for Kenyans to the bitter end,” he added.
Funeral and burial arrangements are expected to be announced by the family.