NAIROBI (SD) – Former Kenya Defense Minister who sent Kenyan troops to Somalia, Mohammed Yusuf Haji is dead aged 80, his family has confirmed.

Haji who was currently serving Garissa County Senator died at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi after ailing for a long time.

“Mzee has rested, he passed on this morning at the Aga Khan Hospital,” a family member said.

He was flown to Turkey for treatment late last year but returned to the country on Saturday when his health stabilised.

Family sources said he suffered multiple organ failure on Monday morning, leading to his death.

Haji was a long time administrator who served in various areas including the vast Rift valley between 1970 and 1998.

He was nominated to Parliament in 2002. And in 2007, he was elected to Parliament unopposed as Ijara MP.

The late Haji was the Minister of Defence from 2008 to 2013 during Kenya’s former Mwai Kibaki’s reign.

It was during his tenure when the Kenya sent troops to Somalia to fight Al Shabaab.