I’m clean, MP says as library launched to honour Ouko

By DOMNICK MITIRO and DENNIS ONYANGO

Kisumu, Kenya: More than 50,000 people are expected to benefit from a Sh30 million library project launched on Saturday in memory of former Foreign Affairs minister Robert Ouko in Muhoroni, Kisumu County.

The launch brought back memories of the late Dr Ouko, with Muhoroni MP Onyango K’Oyoo saying he had wrongly been mentioned in the 1990 murder of the minister, whose charred remains were found at the foot of Got Alila after he had gone missing.

Dr Robert Ouko Memorial Library will benefit about 70 primary schools, 15 secondary schools, research institutions and the local community.

The memorial library is part of a Sh44 million project that intends to expand knowledge access in Koru, Muhoroni region by providing books and digital access platforms such as E-readers. The library boasts a collection of about 18,000 stock of books, 5,000 of them donated by the Government at a cost of Sh4.4 million. The library also vaunts of 250 e-reader academic technology aided gadgets, iPad as well as Wi-Fi connection which is only accessible to those who shall have subscribed as members.

The project is a brainchild of Mrs Christabel Ouko, the widow of the late Robert Ouko and is part of her memories of the former top diplomat who is popularly remembered for his love for literature.

The library was launched by Principal Secretary for Sports, Art and Culture, Patrick Omutia on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary, Hassan Wario.

In a speech read by the Principal Secretary, the Cabinet Secretary said the library serves an important role in cherishing memories of the late Ouko.

“It will be a store of historic ideas the former world renowned diplomat shared...” read part of his speech.

At the event, K’Oyoo said some people had falsely linked him to the killing of Ouko in 1990, something he denies.

The legislator regretted that the government has not yet brought to book the killers despite him having given evidence to the commission investigating the death.

“The evidence I gave at the Ouko’s commission of inquiry is still alive. Anybody who wants to know those who killed Ouko can confirm from my evidence,” said K’Oyoo.

The legislator claimed there was some effort by certain powerful officials in the Kanu government to force him to disown the evidence he had given to the commission inquiring Ouko’s assassination.

“The government wanted to have some people implicated in the murder cleared,” he said.

However, K’Oyoo maintained he had to vindicate himself, saying the matter had hurt him for a long time.

“I have been forced to take this opportunity to clear my name. The Jubilee government should complete the investigations and tell us who killed Ouko,” he said.

Ouko’s family regretted that for more than two decades now, those who planned and executed the murder have not been punished.

Speaking on their behalf, Michael Obadha, the chairperson of Ouko’s Ominde clan, said the government had done little justice to the family.