Former US Vice President Dick Cheney dies at 84

Former United States (US) Vice President Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful and controversial figures in American politics, has died at the age of 84.

His family said he passed away from complications related to pneumonia and cardiovascular disease.

Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the US under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009.

He was widely regarded as one of the most influential vice presidents in modern history, known for his strong views on national security and his central role in shaping America’s foreign policy after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

In a statement, his family described him as “a noble giant of a man” who dedicated his life to serving his country.

“We are grateful beyond measure for all Dick Cheney did for our nation, and we are blessed to have loved and been loved by him,” the statement said.

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1941, Cheney’s political career spanned more than four decades.

He served as White House Chief of Staff under President Gerald Ford, a congressman from Wyoming, and later as Secretary of Defence under President George H. W. Bush--senior Bush--where he oversaw the 1991 Gulf War.

But it was during his time as vice president that Cheney became a defining, and divisive, figure in US politics.

After the 9/11 attacks, he was a key architect of the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, arguing that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction--a claim that was later discredited.

His hard-line stance on terrorism and support for controversial practices like enhanced interrogations drew both strong praise and deep criticism.

Outside politics, Cheney faced serious health challenges, surviving multiple heart attacks and undergoing a heart transplant in 2012.

Despite his health struggles, he remained active in public life, occasionally speaking out on Republican Party issues and defending his record.

President Bush paid tribute, calling him “a man of deep conviction and unwavering service.”

To some, Cheney was a patriot who helped defend America in its darkest hour, but to others, he symbolised the aggressive foreign policy that reshaped the world.

He never visited Kenya during his public career as a US politician, including his time as Vice President (2001–2009) or in earlier roles.

Extensive records of his international travel make mention of trips to Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Israel, Turkey, and Mexico.

But few dispute that his influence on US politics, and the world, will be remembered for generations.

His foreign engagements were primarily focused on the Middle East, South Asia, and Latin America in the context of US security policy and the “war on terror.

”Whilst US actions under his influence--the 2001 Authorisation for Use of Military Force--are believed to have extended to East African nations like Kenya for counterterrorism operations at the time when al-Qaeda linked groups targeted the country, Cheney himself was not personally involved in on-the-ground visits.