Remembering Joseph “Tui” Denar: The MP Whose Extraordinary Generosity Won Hearts in Parliament
The life of nominated MP Joseph Hamisi Denar was celebrated with a poignant mix of laughter and tears at a requiem mass on Thursday, as colleagues painted a portrait of a man whose profound humility and staggering generosity quietly defined his service.
National Assembly Clerk Samuel Njoroge, speaking at Ridgeways Baptist Church, shared an anecdote that crystallised Denar’s character. He recalled noticing that parliamentary restaurant staff seemed unusually eager to serve the late MP, sometimes with several waiters attending to him at once.
Curious about this special attention, Njoroge inquired and was given a simple, astonishing explanation. “I asked the head of hospitality why, and he said that when you served Denar tea worth Sh500, he would give a Sh3,500 tip,” Njoroge told the gathered mourners.
The story revealed a man for whom appreciation was not an afterthought, but a principle. Njoroge added that when the Assembly once considered regulating tipping, Denar was a gentle advocate for keeping it voluntary. “He said they gave from the heart, and that staff did not demand anything. He felt it was simply fair.”
Beyond his open-handedness, Denar, affectionately known as “Tui,” was remembered as a deliberately modest figure who shunned the spotlight. “He chose to highlight others rather than himself and often stayed unnoticed,” Njoroge said. Described as a calm and thoughtful legislator, he would occasionally seek the Clerk’s guidance, particularly on contentious votes, preferring to understand the necessity of participation rather than blindly follow the fray.
“Joseph made generosity look effortless,” Njoroge reflected. “He reminded us that leadership isn’t only about power or position, but also about simple acts that make people feel valued.”
His impact stretched far beyond the parliamentary corridors. Deputy Majority Leader Owen Baya eulogised Denar as an influential pillar in the coastal region and a key figure within the Kenya Kwanza alliance. “He touched the lives of many people… We have lost a resource mobiliser and a pillar of the party,” Baya said, noting Denar’s role as a mentor and supporter to many.
The service was attended by a host of lawmakers, including MPs Oku Kaunya (Teso North), Liza Chelule (Nakuru County), and Irene Kasalu (Kitui County), alongside former MPs Naomi Shaban, Dan Kazungu, and Ann Nyokabi.
An overnight vigil will be held at Denar’s home in Mazeras, Kwale County, on Friday. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula is expected to lead a parliamentary delegation on Saturday for the final farewell and burial ceremony.
As Parliament prepares to say goodbye, Joseph Hamisi Denar leaves behind a legacy measured not in headlines seized, but in hearts touched—a quiet testament to the power of kindness in the often tumultuous world of politics.
