Baringo Senator William Cheptumo passed away on Sunday while undergoing treatment at Nairobi Hospital. He was 58 years old. His family confirmed that he had been unwell for some time, and although he had recently been discharged, his condition worsened, leading to his readmission and subsequent demise.
Born in 1967, Cheptumo was a seasoned politician and legal professional. Before joining the Senate, he served as the Member of Parliament for Baringo North Constituency for 14 years, from 2008 to 2022. In the 2022 general elections, he contested the Baringo Senate seat under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, where he triumphed over the incumbent, Gideon Moi, with 141,777 votes against Moi’s 71,408 votes.
Cheptumo had a strong legal background, having obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi between 1988 and 1991. He further pursued a postgraduate diploma in law at the Kenya School of Law. His early education included attending Maregut Primary School, Bartolimo Secondary School, and Kabarnet High School.
Before his political career, Cheptumo built a successful legal career. He worked as a legal officer at the Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation from 1993 to 1995, followed by a stint at the Central Bank of Kenya between 1995 and 1998. He later founded Cheptumo and Company Advocates, which he managed from 1998 to 2007.
His entry into government saw him serve as an executive in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs from 2008 to 2013. As a legislator, he played key roles in several parliamentary committees. During the 11th Parliament, he chaired the Committee on Delegated Legislation and was a member of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, the House Business Committee, and the Committee on Pensions. In the 12th Parliament, he served as the chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs. Most recently, he chaired the Senate National Security, Defense, and Foreign Relations Committee.
Just two days before his passing, Cheptumo publicly expressed support for Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship, describing him as a highly qualified and well-crafted democrat.
Cheptumo’s death marks a significant loss to Baringo County and the national political landscape. His contributions to legal reforms, governance, and national security will be remembered as part of his enduring legacy. Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.
