Nairobi: Veteran Kenyan politician Dalmas Otieno Anyango passed away at his Nairobi home on Sunday following a brief illness. The former Cabinet Minister, who was a significant political figure from Migori County, was 80 years old. His death leaves a substantial void in Kenya's political landscape, particularly in the South Nyanza region.

According to Kenya News Agency, Otieno was born in 1945 in Kangeso Village, now part of Rongo Sub-County. His political career began in 1988 when he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Rongo under the Kenya African National Union (KANU). He served in various ministerial roles, including Minister for Industrialization, Labour, and Transport and Communications, under the leadership of the late President Daniel Arap Moi.

Otieno was a prominent figure in the 1990s Inter-Parties Parliamentary Group, playing a critical role in Kenya's transition to multi-party democracy. In 2007 and 2013, he was elected on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket and served as Minister for Public Service from 2008 to 2013 under the late President Mwai Kibaki. During this time, he was instrumental in implementing civil service reforms, notably increasing the retirement age from 55 to 60 years.

His political journey took a turn in 2014 when he formed the Kalausi movement, expressing dissatisfaction with ODM's dominance in Luo Nyanza. Despite this, he remained a respected voice in the region. In 2018, former President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed him to the Salary and Remuneration Commission (SRC), a position he held until 2022.

Otieno's contributions to Kenya include infrastructure development and public sector reforms. His service earned him prestigious honors such as the Elder of the Golden Heart and Elder of the Burning Spear. Local leaders, including Migori County's Governor Ochilo Ayacko, Woman Representative Fatuma Mohamed, and Rongo Member of Parliament Paul Abuor, have lauded him as a visionary leader dedicated to the development of his community.