Popular Senator Dies
Baringo County is in mourning following the sudden passing of Senator William Cheptumo.
The news was made public on Sunday, February 16, with tributes pouring in from across the country. Leaders have acknowledged his contribution to both Baringo and the nation at large.
However, it is not clear what claimed the life of the Senator.
His last post on social media was shared on Saturday, February 15. In the post, he wished Azimio leader Raila Odinga the best in the African Union Commission chairmanship race.
“Wishing you the very best Baba. Let’s win together. Let’s bring it home together,” he stated in the post.
On February 9, politicians allied with the Senator shared that he had been released from the hospital after being admitted for several days because of an unsaid illness.
Speaking to the press at the time, the leaders described him as a great leader and mentor, asking others to join them in praying with Cheptumo’s family.
He was long-serving for Baringo North constituency for 15 years before being elected as Baringo Senator in 2022.
Baringo Senator Cheptumo’s Education
The late Senator spent his early years at Maregut Primary School, where he studied from 1975 to 1981, earning his Certificate of Primary Education (CPE).
He went to Bartolimo Secondary School for his high school education between 1982 and 1985. It was there that he earned his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
In 1986, he joined the prestigious Kabarnet High School for his Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education (KACE), a level that prepared him for university education.
Later, he secured a place at the University of Nairobi in 1988, where he pursued a Bachelor of Laws degree.
In 1992, he enrolled at the Kenya School of Law, where he earned his Diploma in Law, officially qualifying to practice as a lawyer.
His Political Career
From the legal field to the corridors of Parliament, Senator Cheptumo had a career that spanned over three decades.
He began his professional career as a legal officer at the Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC) in 1993. In 1995, he transitioned to the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), where he served as a s legal officer.
Further, in 1998, the senator established Cheptumo and Company Advocates, where he served as the proprietor for nearly a decade.
In 2008, he was appointed Executive at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, where he played a key role in shaping Kenya’s legal and constitutional framework.
However, he transitioned into politics in 2008 when he was elected Member of Parliament for Baringo North Constituency, a position he held for 14 years until 2022.
In August 2022 under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket, he won the senatorial race in Baringo, defeating the previous Senator Gideon Moi.
Also, he was an influential figure in national politics, contributing to key legislative debates that shaped Kenya’s governance.
