Top Scribe cum Politician laid to rest as journalists united in mourning.

 Migori Senator Ben Oluoch Okello who was buried yesterday at his home in Migori-Photo Courtesy

By Dickson Odhiambo.

July 10, 2018.

Hundreds of Mourners yesterday trooped in Migori County so as to give their final respect to the departed renowned Journalist cum Politician who has succumbed to throat Cancer.

The mourners come in large numbers at Kanyimach village in Migori County where they gave an emotional send off to Ben Oluoch Okello, the Migori Senator and renowned radio Journalist who worked for several years in different radio stations.

According to mourners who spent the night there, by 6:00 am, the venue of the funeral ceremony at Kanyimach Secondary School was packed and the place full nearly to the brim as mourners were seated by that time.

Among the mourners is the Nasa Leader Raila Odinga who led the nation in mourning the departed Senator.Several Senators, Women Representatives as well as both serving and retired Members of Parliament trooped in to give their last farewell to the Migori Senator.

Also in attendance was a battery of Journalists who came to pay their last respect to a departed colleague cum politicians.

Festus Amimo of Radio Mayienga, Mary Werah, Simon Achola of KBC,Freelance Journalist and Kisumu Journalists Network Chairman Dickson Odhiambo,Samwel Owida,Philip Miyawa, Erastus Agwanda of Hope Radio FM and Jared Nyangira of Lolwe Television and Journalists from the Royal media Services where Senator Okello worked last before joining politics last year are among members of the fourth estate who attended the funeral ceremony of their departed colleague.

Mark Okundi a close family member and a journalist described the late Senator as a dedicated person who really loved his work both as a journalist and a politician when he was elected the Senator for Migori County during the August 8 last year’s General Elections.

President Uhuru Kenyatta in his message of condolence to the family read on his behalf by the Jubilee Secretary General and CS without Portfolio Raphael Tuju described the late Senator as a leader who propagated messages of peace, love and unity and never shied from standing what was right for the country.

Nasa leader Raila Odinga moved the mourners to tears when he took the podium and sang a Luo dirge in praise of the late Senator and the mourners stood while joining him in praising the late senator.

Odinga said ODM party has lost a key member, adding that Senator Okello was a strong man who battled cancer with bravery, adding that the late senator remained cool despite the throat cancer.

“He was a   focused man who loved his community with a firm belief in the welfare of electorate.ODM has lost a dedicated member who was yet to exploit his potential,” Odinga said.

The late Senator Ben Oluoch Okello aged 52 died of throat cancer a fortnight ago in a Nairobi hospital.

Before joining politics last year where he was elected the Senator for Migori County, he worked at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation and Radio Lake Victoria where he worked in 90s.

His last work station is Royal Media Services where he worked at Radio Ramogi where he founded a breakfast show program known as Kogwen gi Ben Oluoch Okello where he introduced an interactive dialogue program on politics, health and development through a segment known as Iwacho Awacha that later transitioned to Ramogi Baraza. 

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