Kibra MP Ken Okoth breathed his last on Friday at Nairobi Hospital’s ICU.
His last words to his family were, “Let me go. Goodbye. I love you.”
Three days before his death, Ken called Ronnie Osumba, the chairperson of Youth Enterprise Development Fund.
He did not pick.
When Ronnie called him back a few hours later, he could not get through to Ken. At the time, he was already in critical condition in ICU.
‘God, why him! We are now orphans,’ Kibra residents mourn Ken Okoth
Ken OkothRonnie paid tribute to the idolized 41-year-old leader who has been described as a servant leader.
“BRO, I AM SO SORRY I MISSED YOUR CALLS ON TUESDAY NIGHT. I WAS AT PKS PLANNING FOR HIS MUM’S BURIAL YESTERDAY. AS SOON AS I SAW THOSE CALLS, I FELT A KNOT IN MY GUT. IT BOTHERED ME DEEPLY. I KNEW HOW RARE YOU ARE ON THE PHONE LATELY. I KNEW I HAD MISSED A CHANCE.”
He added, “Obviously, my numerous calls afterwards and texts until this morning went unanswered as your phone was off. But you know what, I am glad you left in your classical style, AT YOUR OWN TERMS. I pray that we shall be able to bury you at your terms, though many may not understand.”
RONNIE NOTED, “YOU LIVED A FULL LIFE BRO. YOU LEAVE A LEGACY THAT YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, THE WHOLE COUNTRY, WILL FOREVER REMEMBER.”
Ken OkothRead the rest of the glowing and tearjerking tribute below.
From the day we met in 1991 some 28 years ago, me a new student at Olympic Primary and you a KCPE candidate, I knew our destinies were tied.
YOU TOLD ME NO ONE SHOULD PUSH ME AROUND IN MY NEW ENVIRONMENT AND IF FOR SOME REASON I COULDN’T HANDLE YOU WOULD BE THERE. YOU HAVE BEEN A BROTHER.
From the hood in Kibra, our primary school life in Olympic, to Starehe. I actually never knew of Starehe until you made it there. At the prize-giving day in 1992, you told me you were expecting to see me at Starehe.
I made it bro, and you were there to receive me with your big smile. I am sorry though for the trouble I gave you as my class prefect. It was bad judgment on Griffins part to make you my prefect. Lol.
YOU HAVE BEEN SUCH AN INSPIRATION TO ME, AND TO MANY. YOU WERE NEVER PRETENTIOUS. YOU SPOKE YOUR MIND FLUENTLY AND STOOD BY WHAT YOU BELIEVED IN NO MATTER THE COST.
Perhaps you learnt well from the quote Griffin emblazoned in front of his office that “Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true”.
Ken OkothEven when the tide was going against you, you fought for what was just! One day I will tell of how in 2013 when party nominations were being wrung out of your hands, you called and without hesitation, we secured for you a standby nomination at KNC.
I STILL BELIEVE YOU WOULD HAVE WON WITH WHATEVER PARTY. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE YOU WERE AUTHENTICALLY KIBRA!
Born and raised and schooled in Kibra. I mean, you could even speak fluent Kinubi!!! #RIPKENOKOTH.
