World war II Veteran Soldier celebrates 100 years in Kisumu.

 World war II Veteran Soldier Mzee Johaness Auko Gayi{Middle}with his two wives celebrates his 100th Birthday at his home in Nyando Constituency yesterday.He was born on August 18,1918-Dickson Odhiambo.

By Dickson Odhiambo

August 19, 2018.

World war II Veteran Soldier celebrates 100 years in Kisumu.

A FORMER Soldier in the World War II has celebrated 100 years in a ceremony that has been pomp and colorful.

Mzee Johannes Auko Gayi who has turned 100 years since he was born on August 18, 1918 celebrated the day at his home in Nyando Constituency in Kisumu County in a ceremony which was purely organized by his grandchildren.

The event attracted the old man’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who marked the day while celebrating with him as he marks a century in his life where about 200 people attended the event.

One of his sons Bernard Auko who gave a lengthy history of his father said the major secret behind the old man’s success is that he has three great attributes which has greatly helped him.

He says their father has been so merciful, a cheerful giver and a loving person to most people who have interacted with him.

“Some of the secrets which has helped my dad so much is being merciful, a cheerful giver and a very loving person to most people who have interacted with him. As we celebrate 100 years since he was born, we want to thank God for the life of this old man who has been a pillar to us,” he says.

One of his grandsons Dickson Odhiambo said that August 18 every year will be their grandfather’s day named Auko’s day.

Odhiambo says they will be celebrating this day every year and will use the opportunity to help in spreading the good messages of peace since their grandfather has been a peace loving person who most of his time uses in conflict resolutions.

Mzee Johaness Auko Gayi is 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 still 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 as his office. 

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 years, having been born 1918 the same year former South African President the late Nelson Mandela was born.

Auko can still manage to tell one his service number of 37774 in English Language despite his advanced age.

“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 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 emane 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.

Auko says that 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 he 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.

During his birth day celebration held at his Home in Kakmie Sub-Location yesterday, Auko told the gathering that he is very happy to mark 100 years since he was born and thanks God profusely for the years he has been 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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