Former Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and Head of the Wiper Party Presidential Secretariat and Campaign, Abubakar Zein Abubakar, has died.
Abubakar died on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at Avenue Hospital in Nairobi.
The circumstances surrounding his death had not been made public by the time of publication.
He represented Kenya in the East African Legislative Assembly from 2012 to 2022 before taking up a senior leadership role in the Wiper Party, where he served as Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Campaign.
Leaders from across the political divide have since paid tribute, with ODM Director of Communications Philip Etale remembering him as a humble and kind leader.
"Rest in peace, Mheshimiwa Abubakar Zein. A good man has rested. A man of few words with a great smile," Etale said.
Abubakar was appointed to the Wiper Party leadership by Kalonzo Musyoka in December 2024 and remained an outspoken voice on governance and public policy issues until his death.
He represented Kenya in the 3rd East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), serving as a legislator from 2012 to 2017.
However, by the time of publication, neither the Wiper Party nor its leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, had released an official statement regarding his death.
Earlier on Thursday, only hours before reports of his death surfaced, the Kenya Human Rights Commission had appealed to members of the public to contribute towards Abubakar's medical bills, disclosing that he was in critical condition after undergoing surgery.
The rights lobby launched a fundraising campaign dubbed 'Solidarity for Zein', stating that the former legislator was still admitted to hospital following the procedure and needed financial assistance to cover escalating medical costs.
It had also planned a fundraising event featuring art, music and spoken word at Alliance Française Nairobi on Saturday, July 11, to support him and his family.
His death, which was confirmed just hours after the appeal was issued, has overshadowed the planned solidarity event, as condolences and tributes continue to stream in from political leaders, human rights defenders and friends.
