Former EALA MP dies
Former East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member Abubakar Zein has died.
Former East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member Abubakar Zein has died.
According to reports, the former EALA legislator passed away on Thursday, July 9, while receiving treatment at Avenue Hospital in Nairobi.
Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka led the tributes, saying Zein consistently chose principle over personal or political gain throughout his public life.
“Hon. Abubakar Zein was a profile in courage. Time and again, I watched him choose the difficult path over the comfortable one, principle over politics, country over career. That is the rarest form of courage in public life, and he carried it without ever announcing it. Zein did not ask what was convenient. He did what was right,” he wrote.
Kalonzo also recalled Zein’s role in Kenya’s struggle for democratic reforms, saying he was an influential political activist whose involvement stretched across major opposition coalitions.
“But even before then, Zein was a champion and a face of Kenya’s change movement. A political activist par excellence, he also took to the stage as a thespian, drawing in younger Kenyans to advocate for the democratisation of our country.
“From the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD), to the National Super Alliance (NASA), to Azimio la Umoja, Zein’s guiding hand was evident, and he stood, always, beside our late brother, Raila Amolo Odinga,” he added.
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Kalonzo further praised Zein’s service at the regional level, saying his work in the East African Legislative Assembly reflected his commitment to integration, accountability and good governance.
“Zein’s vision reached beyond our borders. A pan-Africanist to his core, he served as a Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) from 2012 to 2017, where he championed regional integration, good governance, and the fight against corruption across the Community,” he continued.
Kalonzo revealed that Zein later accepted the role of heading his Presidential Secretariat, where he impressed colleagues with his humility, mentorship and leadership.
Kalonzo further acknowledged the arts community for organising a solidarity event in support of Zein and encouraged Kenyans to attend and contribute towards his medical bills.
“I take this moment, too, to thank Kenya’s arts, music, and theatre community, who this Saturday, July 11,2026, will gather at the Alliance Française Auditorium for the Solidarity for Zein showcase, organised to stand with his family and help meet his medical bills.
“On behalf of my family, the Wiper Patriotic Front, the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition, and all who knew and loved him, I extend our deepest condolences to his family, his relatives, his friends, and all who mourn this tremendous loss,” he concluded.
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