The East African Community has lost one of its longtime lawmakers following the death of former East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) member Abubakar Zein Abubakar, whose career was marked by years of service in regional legislation, constitutional reforms and civic education.
Abubakar died on Thursday at Avenue Hospital in Nairobi, sources confirmed. The cause of his death had not been made public by the time of publication.
His passing comes only days after relatives, friends, political leaders and supporters came together at Alliance Francaise for a fundraising drive to help offset the cost of his medical treatment after reports emerged that he had been unwell.
Following news of his death, tributes streamed in from across the country and the region, with many remembering him as an experienced legislator, a champion of constitutional reforms and a dedicated public servant who made a lasting contribution to governance and civic engagement.
Abubakar served as a member of the East African Legislative Assembly from 2012 to 2022. During his decade in the regional Parliament, he sat on several committees and played an active role in advancing the East African Community's integration agenda.
He earned recognition for promoting constitutional governance, peace-building, human rights and governance reforms throughout his time in the Assembly. He also took part in legislative work focusing on trade, governance and institutional reforms across the regional bloc.
Before joining EALA, Abubakar was actively involved in Kenya's constitutional reform journey. He was among the commissioners of the People's Commission of Kenya, popularly known as the Ufungamano Initiative, which contributed to discussions that helped shape the country's constitutional review process.
He later served as Executive Director of Uraia Trust, where he led civic education and governance programmes aimed at strengthening public participation, democratic values and constitutional awareness across the country.
Throughout his public service, Abubakar remained a strong voice on regional peace and security, constitutional governance and closer cooperation among East African Community member states, leaving behind a legacy that touched both Kenya and the wider region