Feature: Ex-World War II soldier enjoys his sunset years as he turns 100.
By Dickson Odhiambo.
March 6, 2018.
Ex-World War II soldier enjoys his sunset years as he turns 100.
A visit to his home within Kakmie Sub-Location of Onjiko/Awasi ward in Kisumu County of Kenya ushers you into a territory of an old but energetic man whom you may think cannot express himself due to his advanced age but this is not the case as the old man can prove you wrong severally.
This is the home of Mzee Johaness Auko Gayi, a World War II veteran who served between 1939 and 1945 during the Second World War II.
What tells one that the old man was once a soldier is the kind of commands he tries to give out to some of his grand and great-grand Children who always mingles around him whenever he rests in his newly built permanent House which he normally refers to as his office.
When this writer visited his home recently, the old man managed to give him an exclusive interview on his life spanning to a century now since he was born.
To begin with, the Former Army officer at the Second World War begun by narrating how they joined and told to sign an agreement before joining the Service.
“Ne wa ndiko ogirimiti kane pok wadhi elweny mar vita mar ariyo mar piny mangima {We signed an agreement before we joined the second World War},”Auko says.
He says he joined the World War II in 1939 aged about 21, having been born in 1918 the same year former South African President the late Nelson Mandela was born.Mandela died at the age of 95 years in December 2013.
Auko can still manage to tell one his service number of 37774 in English Language despite his advanced age without missing a figure.
“Namba Mara mane omiya e lweny en 37774 sajni Johaness Auko Gayi {My Service number given to me was 37774 Sergeant Johaness Auko Gayi,” he says.
He says during the World War II, he managed to travel around the World and one of the places he visited includes Burma and the Horn of Africa.
He adds that while serving during his tenure during the events of World War II, he managed to be also trained as a driver, a skill which later helped him greatly in life after the War ended on September 2, 1945.
“Ne ayudo tiegruok bende e lweny kaka ja riembo mar Nyamburko kendo an achiel kuom jogo mane riembo jolweny wetena ka moro amora mane wadhiye {I also received training as a qualified driver and I am one of those who were driving fellow Soldiers to where we went}, Auko adds.
He says one of the persons whom he can vividly remember serving with during the Second World War is the former Chief of General Staff the late retired General Jackson Mulinge, adding that Mulinge was a very keen fellow soldier when they worked together. Mulinge who later became a politician served as Kathiani MP and as a Minister for Health and died around 2001.
Auko says had he undergone through some formal education then, he would have risen through the ranks to become a senior officer in the military during the World War II but lack of formal education made him not to get more promotions hence he vowed to ensure that all his children received formal education which he has accomplished by ensuring that all his ten sons are daughters underwent through formal education.
He says a white man who trained him as a driver during the Second World War advised him to ensure that his give his children formal education and true to the vow he made, his children underwent through formal education.
Auko says after the events of the Second World War, he came back home in Kisumu after which he later joined the Nandi Tea Factory in early 50s where he worked as a driver up to around 1967.
He says after serving the Nandi Tea Factory as one of its drivers, he got a job again as a driver with the then newly former National Irrigation Board being posted to Ahero Irrigation Scheme where worked before being transferred to West Kano Irrigation scheme.
Auko adds that after working at the two Irrigation schemes, he retired around 1982 and opted to be home until now.
He says during his tenure as a driver during the entire period spanning about 30 years, he did not even caused a road accident at any single moment he was driving, adding that on several occasions while driving he could stop his vehicle even for a frog or a snake to cross the road rather than stepping on the animals.
He attributes this to the love of God, adding that being keen while one is driving matters a lot.
He says that when one is driving, he or she should always be mindful of other road users, adding that a driver should always be fully alert while behind the wheels and not drive under the influence of alcohol.
“Saa ma Ja riemb Nyamburko riembo to nyaka one ni oriembo nyamburko adek, ma oriembono, ma luwo bang’e to kod mabiro e nyime,{When one is driving, he should be in charge of three vehicles that includes the one he drives, the one behind him and the oncoming one,” he further says.
This year as he celebrates a century since he was born around 1918, he thanks the Almighty God for the life he has lived in this world.
“An agoyone Nyasaye erokamano kuom ngima ma osemiya ndalo duto mag ngimana kendo kuom chopo higni mia achiel e higani. {I am thanking the Almighty God for the life He has given me in my entire life and for clocking 100 years this year,” he concludes.
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