City lawyer Karanja Kabage has left a big hole to be filled after his sudden death which happened on Friday night after he was involved in a road accident in Nairobi.

For Nakuru residents, Kabage was not only a lawyer but also a political and a father figure whom many from the community around his rural home in Njoro looked up to.

Despite losing his political bid for Molo and Njoro parliamentary seats and the Nakuru senatorial seat, Kabage, continued to initiate projects that benefited the community.

Among the projects that many will remember him for is Njoro First Education Bursary Fund which he initiated in 2014 after losing in the 2013 general elections.

“He never had negative energy towards his constituents despite losing in a number of his political ambitions. The last among his projects is the education fund that fully sponsors nearly 50 needy students,” said Joel Mathai, the fund coordinator.

He started the fund with Sh2 million he sourced from his friends which after it was exhausted found him using his own resources to support.

“The first batch of the students finished high school last year. Some have joined different universities and tertiary institutions. This is one project he will be greatly remembered for,” added Mathai.

Residents of Kikapu village, a dry area that faced acute water shortage over the years got quenched after he sunk them an only borehole to end their agony.

“We used to walk for kilometers to get water which was still scarce. Many didn’t keep animals but after he sunk the borehole for us we now live a better life. We will dearly miss him,” said Jane Mumbi, a resident.

Governor Lee Kinyanjui led Nakuru leaders in paying tribute to the philanthropic lawyer terming him as a respected investor and political leader with a keen interest on national issues.

“He always wanted to be part of every plan meant to improve the life of his people both in the county and beyond. He never hesitated to give his wise counsel to the government on county and national issues,” said Kinyanjui.

The governor added that he will be greatly remembered for his “big heart for charity and use of his position to champion for vulnerable members of the community. May God rest his soul in eternal peace.”

Njoro MP Charity Kathambi who was among his opponents in the 2017 general elections mourned him as a dedicated leader who held no grudges and was always supportive of the sitting leaders.

“He was a committed friend and a partner in transforming Njoro constituency. He was a man whose grasp of matters legal, politics, economic and general current affairs was immeasurable,” said Kathambi.

Njoro MP Charity Kathambi, who was his opponent in the 2017 General Elections described him as an astute businessman, hardworking, an exceptional leader and a man of great abilities.

Kuresoi South MP Joseph Tonui described Mr Kabage as a man who loved his nation and dedicated most of his life to serving the great nation.

"The cruel hand of death has robbed Nakuru and Kenya one of its illustrious sons," he said, adding that he was praying to God to give Mr Kabage's family the necessary fortitude to bear the loss.

In 2017, Kabage contested for the Nakuru senatorial seat but lost in the Jubilee Party primaries to Susan Kihika who went ahead to clinch the seat in the general elections.

Despite being a Jubilee Party gold membership certificate holder, Kabage defected from the party shifting his focus to Njoro parliamentary seat, his rural home a move that came with sharp criticism from his political opponents.

While defending his move, Kabage said that he wasn’t power hungry but had great interest in serving his people.

“I have strong passion to serve the public and I feel that by narrowing down to the constituency level, I will be able to better serve the constituents,” Kabage said during a past interview.

As an independent candidate, Kabage lost the parliamentary contest to incumbent MP Kathambi who had been nominated by the Jubilee Party.

The seasoned lawyer, had also vied for the same seat in the 2013 general elections having unsuccessfully sought nomination ticket under The National Alliance (TNA) party.

He sought nomination in the popular National Alliance Party (TNA) but lost to Joseph Kiuna garnering 5,000 votes against 12,000.

Kabage however disputed the nominations and filed a petition accusing Kiuna of engaging election malpractices which included bribery of voters, use of violence and use of public resources during his campaigns.

High Court Judge Anyara Emukule however dismissed the petition due to lack of evidence that Kiuna had committed the offences with costs to be met by Kabage.

Kabage then jumped ship and contested for the seat under a United Democratic Front (UDF) party ticket where he came third after Kiuna and the incumbent MP Kathambi.

Njoro constituency was hived off from the larger Molo Constituency after the promulgation of the 2010 constitution. Earlier on, Kabage had contested for the Molo parliamentary seat in the 2007 but lost to the former Molo MP Jacob Macharia.