Former Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno is Dead at 80

Nairobi, Kenya – September 7, 2025 – Former Rongo Member of Parliament and seasoned Kenyan politician Dalmas Otieno Anyango has died at the age of 80, sources close to the family confirmed today.

Dalmas Otieno, born on April 19, 1945, was a prominent economist and politician whose career spanned over three decades.

First elected as the MP for Rongo in 1988 on a KANU ticket, Otieno served as a Cabinet Minister under Presidents Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki, holding portfolios such as Industrialization (1988–1991), Labour and Human Resource Development (1991), Transport (1991–1996), and Public Service (2008–2013).

His political journey was marked by resilience, having navigated complex political tides, including a notable fallout with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and its leader, Raila Odinga, over his formation of the Kalausi movement in 2014, which aimed to challenge ODM’s dominance in Nyanza.

Otieno’s political career was not without controversy. His attempt to establish Kalausi, meaning “whirlwind” in Dholuo, was perceived by some as an effort to undermine Odinga’s leadership, leading to his branding as a “Jubilee mole” after his appointment as a special envoy to South Sudan by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

This move, coupled with his prolonged absence from Rongo, fueled opposition campaigns against him, culminating in his loss of the Rongo parliamentary seat to Paul Abuor in the 2017 ODM primaries.

Otieno ran as an independent candidate but was unsuccessful.

Beyond politics, Otieno was a respected figure in public service, notably serving as Vice-Chairperson of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) from 2018 until his resignation in 2022 to contest the Migori gubernatorial race under the Jubilee Party.

Despite his defeat, Otieno remained a vocal advocate for economic development and political independence, often emphasizing the need to move away from tribalism and nepotism in Kenyan politics.

The former MP’s personal life was marked by both triumphs and tragedies.

He married three times, with his third marriage to Dorothy Okello in 2013 aimed at fostering youth development and unity between Homa Bay and Migori counties.

Otieno endured profound personal losses, including the death of his son Isaiah in a 2008 helicopter accident in Canada, his daughter Eflyne in 2014, his daughter Joan in 2021, and his wife Jane Otieno in January 2024.

Tributes have begun pouring in on social media, with many recalling Otieno’s eloquence, intellectual rigor, and commitment to his constituents. “Dalmas was a strategist and a patriot who never shied away from speaking his truth,” posted a user on X, reflecting the sentiment of many in Nyanza.

Otieno’s legacy as a Makerere University-educated economist and a fearless politician will likely endure in the annals of Kenyan history.

His contributions to Rongo’s development, including infrastructure projects like the Rongo-Nyamarambe road and the Opapo fish processing plant, were often cited by supporters as evidence of his dedication to his constituency.