Uhuru asks for document that Nyagarama didn’t get to read

Governor John Nyagarama’s family, led by his widow Naomi (second right), watch as his body is removed from a police chopper at his Riamanoti rural home in Nyamira County. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday sent for a missing memorandum that the late John Nyagarama failed to read after being heckled during a presidential event two months ago.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga and Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i asked Nyamira County leaders to find the document, which remained in the hands of the governor, and give it to the president.

Nyagarama was to read the document before President Kenyatta and officially hand it over to him. However, this did not happen after the crowd drowned him out.

The leaders were speaking yesterday during Nyagarama’s funeral service at Nyamira Primary School.

Matiang’i, who spoke first about the missing document, said the president had requested that whoever had the document surrender it so it could be passed on to him.

Take it forward

“The last function we had with the governor was at Ikonge where the president was. The governor had a memorandum but he didn’t read it because you know what happened. If we can get a copy of that memorandum, we will take it forward and we will be able to realise what he wanted to do for the people,” Matiang’i said.

Raila also spoke about the document when he rose to address mourners.

“Today I talked with President Kenyatta and he said if there is anyone who knows how the memorandum can be found, it be taken to him with immediacy.”

Raila Odinga leads other leaders in paying last respect to Nyamira Governor John Nyagarama at Nyamira Primary. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

The governor had been heckled at an event at Ikonge Primary School in North Mugirango where Uhuru had gone to commission a road on October 21.

Nyagarama had stood up to read a list of various development projects the residents of Nyamira wanted.

Following the incident, Nyagarama, in his usual fashion of revisiting the misdeeds he had faced, spoke about the heckling during three separate public events he attended before his death at the Nairobi Hospital two weeks ago.

While addressing mourners during the burial of his economic advisor Francis Ongwae at Magwagwa, a month later, Nyagarama said his heckling was unfortunate to county residents because all the demands of the people that he was to tell the president were lost following what he termed a manner-less show.

“When you quarrel with your wife, do you continue fighting even when you have a visitor? Let me tell you what you lost as a county as a result of the heckling. It was that unfortunate,” Nyagarama told residents.

Raila and Matiang’i’s requests for the memorandum came amid calls for calm and unity among Gusii leaders, with nearly all leaders at the funeral talking about the need for leaders from the region to unite.

The CS said, in honour of the late Nyagarama, he would call for a meeting of all leaders from the county, including all members of the county assembly, to forge a formula on how to work with the new governor.

Abagusii Council of Elders Chairman Araka Matundura lauded Gusii leaders for their newfound unity, noting they had put aside their political differences to come together after the death of Nyagarama.

Nyamira Speaker Moffat Teya eulogised Nyagarama as a leader who would do anything to procure peace with anyone he differed with.

“He was always ready to extend (a hand) of reconciliation whenever he realised that all was not well between him and the people surrounding him,” Teya said.

Former MP James Gesami said Nyagarama’s death should serve as a turning point for leaders from Gusii, inspiring them to come together with an agenda for the community.

Timothy Bosire challenged Nyagarama’s deputy to ensure that what the governor had set out to achieve is accomplished.

Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga challenged leaders to maintain the relations that Nyagarama had built through peaceful coexistence.

The funeral was also attended by governors Cornel Rasanga (Siaya), Cyprian Awiti (Homa Bay), Wycliffe Wangamati (Bungoma), Okoth Obado (Migori), Wilber Otichilo (Vihiga), Anyang Nyong’o (Kisumu) and Isaac Barchok (Bomet).

Legislators who attended the emotional send off included county senator Okong’o Mogeni, Beatrice Kones (Bomet East), Janet Ongera (Kisii), Jerusha Momanyi (Nyamira), Ezekiel Machogu (Nyaribari Masaba), Lisa Chelule (Nakuru), Sylivanus Osoro (South Mugirango), Richard Onyonka (Kitutu Chache South), Shadrack Mose (Kitutu Masaba) and Ben Momanyi (Borabu).

The governor was buried at his Tente home, which is within Nyamira municipality.

He is survived by 14 children; 10 of whom he had with his first wife the late Dorca Sigara and four with his second wife Naomi.