Wamuzi News Ke
In a devastating turn of events, the nation has been rocked by the sudden death of former Kajiado County Woman Representative, Janet Marania Teyiaa. The news was confirmed on Monday, April 7, by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who served alongside her in the 12th Parliament.
Gachagua, visibly shaken, took to social media, writing:
“It’s a painful loss. Janet Teyiaa was not just a colleague — she was a force of courage and determination in Parliament. Her death is heartbreaking.”
Janet’s journey into politics was nothing short of inspirational. First stepping into the limelight in 2013 as a nominated MP representing persons with disabilities, she defied all odds to clinch the Kajiado Woman Representative seat in 2017 — a resounding victory that silenced doubters with over 186,000 votes, outshining her closest opponent by more than 80,000.
Born with a disability, Janet’s childhood was marked by immense hardship. Gachagua revealed that it was a social worker who rescued her during her early years, helping shape the path that would lead her to national leadership.
“Janet shattered every limitation placed before her,” Gachagua said. “She proved that disability is not inability — her story was pure grit, resilience, and triumph.”
Though the exact cause of her death remains under wraps, tributes are flooding in, with many hailing her as a relentless advocate for persons with disabilities and a symbol of strength for the marginalized.
In a rare political move ahead of the 2022 general elections, Teyiaa stepped down from seeking re-election, instead throwing her weight behind UDA’s Leah Sangaire — a gesture that earned her praise from President William Ruto himself.
“Her courage and selflessness to support the UDA candidate speaks volumes. Janet Teyiaa was a true patriot,” Ruto declared at the time.
Her legacy will live on not just through her work, but through every life she touched, especially those she fiercely fought for — the voiceless, the forgotten, and the underestimated.
