KISUMU

 20-12-2006

Luos were at the weekend urged to stop politicking at the funeral homes and to respect the departed souls as such activities causes stress and embarrassment to the bereaved families.

These remarks were made by the Karachuonyo MP.Dr.Paul Adhu Awiti when he addressed thousands of mourners who turned up to witness the burial of the SDA Church women leader in both Nakuru and Karachuonyo Mrs Christabel Akinyi Deya,the wife of a former Nakuru Municipal Councillor Mr.Barrack Deya Okul.

Mrs Okul was given a fitting burial at her palatial country home in Kogweno Lwala Kawuor in Central Karachonyo Location, in Rachuonyo district.

Among  the thousands of mourners were several parliamentary hopefuls in the area who included Mr.George Bango,r.Tom Dola,Eng.James Rege and prof Akoko Orinda.Also   present was the former MP for the area Mrs |Phoebe Muga Asiyo and many dignitaries from all corners of Luo-Nyanza.

Other notable personalities who attended Mrs. Okul's burial included Ambassador Leo Pius Odero,the retired former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education   and the LDP/ODM-K Nakuru branch chairman Mr.Geofrey Asanyo,church elders and professionals.

Explaining that burial ceremonies should remain solemnized event Dr.Awiti advised those seeking for elective positions in public domain should organize political forums in other places outside funeral homes.

The MP also cautioned his opponent to conduct peaceful campaign and to avoid mudslinging and throwing insults at each other.Conduct your campaigns peacefully and avoid incitement and violence." Let the electorate decide as to who can serve them better as an MP. We should restrain ourselves and avoid the campaign of hate which is counter productive.

The legislator praised Mrs Okul for exemplary leadership, which has earned her a lot of respect both at her rural home in Karachuonyo and also in her Nakuru residence and even with the former colleagues at the Barclays Bank in both Nakuru East and West branches where she had served as the secretary to the branch managers before her mandatory retirement age. She died at the age of 59 and left behind five children three sons and three sons and two daughters all are grown ups.

Her brother in-law Mrs Erastus Amondi Okul, the Chairman of Gor Mahia Football Club gave a moving eulogy about the deceased.

Mrs. Asiyo told mourners to live in peace with their neigbours giving the good example of the late Mrs. Okul's final farewell which had attracted thousands of mourners due to her humble and simple life of love and friendliness.

She told parliamentary aspirants to respect each other, saying at the end of it all they shall remain Karachuonyo people meaning brothers and sisters.

Addressing the same mourners the former PS for Information and Communications Eng.James Rege severally criticized newspapers for distorting his image and yet he is not at war with the newspaper.

Eng.Rege pledged to donate 24 computers to each one of the secondary schools in Karachuonyo constituency to facilitate the computer literacy among the students. This is because the entire world has gone the computer way.

Prof Akoko Orinda declared his interest in the Karachuonyo parliamentary seat comes the year 2007.his declaration caused a prolonged applause from the mourners who gave him a nod of approval. He is the grandson of the legend administrator per excellence the late Mzee Paul Mboya Akoko, the former Secretary of the South Nyanza African Local Native Council (ALNC) and late African District Council (ADC) for South Nyanza and later Homabay district. He retired as the clerk to the Homabay County Council and the family which hails from the populous Kadwet sub-location which occupied both Central and East Karachuonyo.

Responding to complaints by the residents that the area needed an ambulance vehicle for transporting expectant mothers and the sick persons to the hospitals.Dr.Adhu Awiti told the residents and all parliamentary aspirants to get involved in fundraising to collect enough money for purchase of an ambulance vehicle. He promised to prevail upon the CDF money disbursing local committee to chip in some money towards this worthy cause.

The MP blamed the government for marginalizing the Luo community saying that there is evidence of total biasnesses in the allocation of development funds. He gave the example of Central Province, which is only contributing less that Kshs 6 million in taxation annually, but getting 30 billion ,whereas Nyanza province which is contributing more than 30 billion is getting  peanuts in terms of funds allocation and urged the treasury to correct this shameful imbalances for the purpose of equitable distribution of national wealth.

The presence of several parliamentary hopefuls at the funeral home caused high tension but all ended peacefully which would be candidate exchanging hearty hand shakes in greetings with broad smiles.

ENDS

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com