User:Appelly/sandbox

Karisa Maitha (born 1954) is a Kenyan politician, Karisa Maitha rose from humble beginnings to a 'Hurricane' on the national scene as Local Government Minister & 'Mugogo' on the regional scene as Coast kingpin (unmatched to date). A trained Clinical Officer, he earned many admirers with his heart for serving the underprivileged.

Early life
His legacy as a Clinical Officer served him well when he made the move to politics, becoming a Councillor in 1979. He would later on endure political defeats & setbacks to Said Hemed & Rashid Mzee in the quest for the Kisauni top seat before securing it on a DP ticket in 1997.

Experience career & Politics
Maitha, who started his political career as a nominated councillor in 1979 was the National Alliance Party of Kenya [NAK] strongman in its war with the Liberal Democratic Party [LDP], over the control of coast politics. As the only NAK MP in Mombasa district, his death is likely to drastically change the equilibrium of Mombasa politics and is a major blow to NAK, who will be forced to look for a replacement to fight LDP. Since he made his parliamentary debut in 1997 on a Democratic Party of Kenya [DP] ticket, he had always wanted to emerge as the spokesman of the Mijikenda, a local coastal community. Since he made his parliamentary debut in 1997 on a Democratic Party of Kenya [DP] ticket, he had always wanted to emerge as the spokesman of the Mijikenda, a local coastal community. Significantly, he tried to lead a crusade against Coast people of Arab descent, for dominating all sectors of the economy, to the detriment of the Mijikenda. With the search of Maitha’s replacement beginning immediately after his burial on 11 September and reaching no sutable candidate in sight, it is surely going to be an onerous task. So far, the next senior most politician from Coast province is Foreign Affairs minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere, who has a laidback approach and who lacks grassroots support. Then there is the outspoken and boisterous assistant minister in charge of provincial administration Danson Mungatana. It is doubtful whether Mungatana – who is serving his first term in parliament – will take over the mantle. Again, he comes from the Pokomo tribe in Tana River district, while the Mijikenda would like to see one of their own replacing Maitha. Whereas Mombasa mayor Taib Ali Taib has declared his interest in Maitha’s Kisauni parliamentary seat, it is doubtful whether he can make any impact, given that he only won the mayoral seat by a slight margin. But what is certain is that a major battle for supremacy between NAK and LDP is now in the offing.

Death
Cabinet minister Karisa Maitha died, aged only 50. He suffered a massive heart attack while in Germany on an official trip doing what he loved most – vigorously selling his country as a top tourist destination. Mr Maitha was taken ill while in the middle of an interview with a German radio station and was immediately rushed to a leading hospital in Frankfurt. But the doctors' attempts to bring him round proved unsuccessful.

He was being interviewed in Kiswahili by Kenyan journalist Mildred Ngesa, for Radio Deutche Welle, and was a few minutes into the conversation when when he was taken ill.

Said Ms Ngesa, who is studying in Germany: "He started coughing and then he broke off saying, 'Tuko mahali pabaya wacha nitakwita badaaye,'(We are in a bad place, I'll call you later)." The line went dead soon afterwards.

"I was shocked as l did not know what had happened," she added. "When l tried to call him back, the phone was not being answered," Ms Ngesa said.

The minister was in Germany leading a high-powered delegation on a week-long series of events promoting Kenya as the ideal holiday destination.

He was accompanied by his third wife, Alice, the Kenya Tourist Board managing director Achieng Ongong'a, and acting tourism director Kipkorir Lagat.

Mr Maitha leaves three other wives – the latest, Mwanauli, he married only last year – and a total of 12 children.

He leaves five children by his first wife, Rachel, another five by his second wife Philomena, and two by his third Alice who was accompanying him. He died on August 26th 2004 while still in office


 * https://web.archive.org/web/20170718210926/http://www2.unwto.org/