Tribute To Oscar Kingara and GPO Oulu
TRIBUTE TO SLAIN FORMER STUDENT LEADER, OULU GPO By Nyambega Gisesa E
. The whitewash of the issues and even mystery that often surround the murder of a popular, but controversial, leader always raises questions and doubts, among the masses. A few days after his assassination, the question is who really killed Oulu GPO and why? The easy answer is that his murder is a way to silence a man who with him carried a poisonous dossier implicating the police on extra-judicial killing and the bitter and contentious attacks against the government made by him and his boss Mr.Oscar Kamau King’ara the founder and CEO of Oscar Foundation.
“The government had a hand in his death. The assassinators that shot them at point range were well organised and choosing state house road for that task at 6.00 o’clock in broad daylight with traffic jams all over Nairobi can only be the work of the government, “Emmanuel Dennis, a youth activist, who was waiting for Oulu GPO to deliver the mysterious envelope in his possession says. Oulu GPO was supposed to deliver a mysterious envelope with hard evidence against the police to the Partnership for Change offices on Thursday afternoon. “He called and requested that he deliver the documents the next morning,”Emmanuel recalls the last words he had with him. Three hours later after that call, a bloodless Oulu GPO lay dead next to his boss in a white Mercedes Benz KAJ 179Z after a shooting from men wearing black suits in a convoy of four vehicles-a four-wheel drive car, a Nissan van, a mini-bus and a luxurious black Mercedes Benz. A few hours after their death, there were calls all-over the world to open independent investigations into their death.
The US Ambassador to Kenya, Michael Ranneberger offered “assistance services from the Federal Bureau of Investigation effective immediately for an independent investigation into their death.” A week before his death he had sent me an email accusing the government of ignoring Kenyans and requesting me to inform other young people to come together and chart a way forward for the country. Oulu was by far one of our most dynamic young leaders i have met my in life. Oulu GPO had become a major student leader and national figure who shortly before his death had worked out a constructive program for African youth together with other young leaders in Africa after a trip to Gaborone in December. Kenyan leaders increasingly viewed him as an able, respected, and visionary spokesman against corruption and human rights abuses. Oulu GPO had evolved from the ashes after being arbitrary expelled from the University of Nairobi to become a Program Officer at Youth Agenda up to Dec 2008 and later a Communications and Advocacy Officer at Oscar Foundation even with the fact that he was not yet through with his university education.
What always impressed me the most about Oulu GPO was his constant search for answers, his overwhelming humour and his selflessness in serving humanity. In his home, he was the only breadwinner after his bed-ridden mother could not afford to take care of his sister and brother who dropped out of school in class eight. In his place of stay at Eastleigh, he joined the common mwananchi to seek solace after their structures were demolished by scrappy land grabbers. Being a Luo from Luo Nyanza, he went ahead boldly to defend Mungiki who were being extra-judicially killed. Oulu GPO brought pride to Kenyan youth and university students. He made us feel that we were entitled to be a good life, to demand justice, in the face of the oppression and backward dictatorship in our institutions.
He also pointed out the ills of the society. His writings across the web and in local daily newspapers were extremely important to any University student yet they came from a man whom the same institution had closed its doors to. His life was more or the same like that of Martin King Luther and Malcom X.Its only sad that he has gone too early to benefit from the revolution whose pace he set. He was a young man who breathed with a fierce passion for Africa, a true pan-africanist. So in the undying spirit of Oulu GPO, let's keep up the struggle!
The writer is a guest editor for Daily Metro (Campus Lowdown) and a student leader in Kenyatta University.
For comments write to engisesa@yahoo.com
Thursday, December 17, 2009
BY GEORGE GACHARA
Tribute To Oscar Kingara and GPO Oulu
To my fallen hero I sit down to write this, red-eyed, after a long day of tears.
It is with deep distress and pain that I have learnt about your shameful assassination. The pain that I feel stems from my deep attachment to you, to our people and to our land; all of which we have in common. Bro today I lost you, every gun shot you braved, was a dagger in my heart, but it is a heart connected to a precious body.
GPO you were a great guy. I can't think of a time that I spoke to you and you didn't have a smile on your face, good times or bad. I remember your confidence and humor, you always said “relax am on top of things” even when you were not. Bro you have served your people and your country with HONOR, you have been exemplified in life and death. I feel in my own flesh the deep pain and the despair caused by your death. I humbly accept these feelings as one more proof of my fragility as a human being, and of the deep links of solidarity and mutuality that we shared I am aware of the fact that unfortunately these cruel events have become a daily occurrence in Kenya, making human life increasingly precarious and the every one with an opinion more vulnerable to becoming victims of such savagery.
Today I raise my prophetic voice in condemnation of this and all the killings that are extinguishing the precious gift of life of men, May our enemies, the bastards and their mouth pieces now go to the hell. I pray for a smidgen of peace and wisdom in these moments of pain and indignation.
I am truly comforted, for I am the lucky one just for today.
VENGEANCE IS OURS
George Gachara
To my fallen hero I sit down to write this, red-eyed, after a long day of tears.
It is with deep distress and pain that I have learnt about your shameful assassination. The pain that I feel stems from my deep attachment to you, to our people and to our land; all of which we have in common. Bro today I lost you, every gun shot you braved, was a dagger in my heart, but it is a heart connected to a precious body.
GPO you were a great guy. I can't think of a time that I spoke to you and you didn't have a smile on your face, good times or bad. I remember your confidence and humor, you always said “relax am on top of things” even when you were not. Bro you have served your people and your country with HONOR, you have been exemplified in life and death. I feel in my own flesh the deep pain and the despair caused by your death. I humbly accept these feelings as one more proof of my fragility as a human being, and of the deep links of solidarity and mutuality that we shared I am aware of the fact that unfortunately these cruel events have become a daily occurrence in Kenya, making human life increasingly precarious and the every one with an opinion more vulnerable to becoming victims of such savagery.
Today I raise my prophetic voice in condemnation of this and all the killings that are extinguishing the precious gift of life of men, May our enemies, the bastards and their mouth pieces now go to the hell. I pray for a smidgen of peace and wisdom in these moments of pain and indignation.
I am truly comforted, for I am the lucky one just for today.
VENGEANCE IS OURS
George Gachara
BY KWAMCHETSI MAKOKHA
Tribute To Oscar Kingara and GPO Oulu
I am very angry, since I personally knew GPO and King’ara but I need to remind myself that I need to think calmly and clearly, especially at a time like this. I suggest a concerted response along the following lines:
The real identities of the people who have been killed in cold blood to show that these are ordinary folk just like you and me. They are not members of some gang. They are not armed, have no history of violence, and have only tried to extent help to people in distress. We need to develop bios of them – who were they and what did they do. The Kenyan public must see that this so-called war on Mungiki is a blanket cheque for assassination of people they care about – if not themselves. For starters, here below, but please correct or add as appropriate:
n GPO Oulu, 34, was Sonu vice chairman in 2004 and was expelled from the UoN over protests to oppose increasing fees by 250 per cent. He was readmitted in 2007 and completed his B.Ed before joining Oscar Foundation. He comes from Upper Kadongo in Kisumu Rural Constituency – We Have to Get His MP to speak about this
. n King’ara, 37, founded and ran Oscar Foundation, which offered free legal aid. He is married with two daughters. n His organisation blew the whistle on extra-judicial killings in 2007 with the release of the report, ‘The Killing Fields’, which was handed to the KNCHR and formed the basis of the subsequent investigations, and the UN SR on EJE.
kwamchetsi
I am very angry, since I personally knew GPO and King’ara but I need to remind myself that I need to think calmly and clearly, especially at a time like this. I suggest a concerted response along the following lines:
The real identities of the people who have been killed in cold blood to show that these are ordinary folk just like you and me. They are not members of some gang. They are not armed, have no history of violence, and have only tried to extent help to people in distress. We need to develop bios of them – who were they and what did they do. The Kenyan public must see that this so-called war on Mungiki is a blanket cheque for assassination of people they care about – if not themselves. For starters, here below, but please correct or add as appropriate:
n GPO Oulu, 34, was Sonu vice chairman in 2004 and was expelled from the UoN over protests to oppose increasing fees by 250 per cent. He was readmitted in 2007 and completed his B.Ed before joining Oscar Foundation. He comes from Upper Kadongo in Kisumu Rural Constituency – We Have to Get His MP to speak about this
. n King’ara, 37, founded and ran Oscar Foundation, which offered free legal aid. He is married with two daughters. n His organisation blew the whistle on extra-judicial killings in 2007 with the release of the report, ‘The Killing Fields’, which was handed to the KNCHR and formed the basis of the subsequent investigations, and the UN SR on EJE.
kwamchetsi
BY ONYANGO OLOO
Tribute To Oscar Kingara and GPO Oulu
The Social Democratic Party of Kenya is adding its voice in denouncing the callous murder of two of Kenya's most courageous human rights activists- Oscar Kingara and GPO Oulu who were gunned down on March 5, 2009 near the residence of Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki. There are indications that the assassins may be connected to the Kenya Police given the testimony of some eye-witnesses who described a driver of one of the vehicles involved in the killings as wearing police uniform.
The Social Democratic Party is convinced that the killings of Oscar Kingara and GPO Oulu were directly connected to the advocacy and investigative role of the Oscar Foundation in unearthing concrete evidence linking members of the Kenya Police to extrajudicial killings. We think that it is NOT a coincidence that the Government Spokesman Dr. Alfred Mutua ranted and raved against the Oscar Foundation and uttered public threats against its leaders just hours before Oscar and GPO were shot in cold blood. Given the angry and contemptous dismissal by spokespeople for the police and the military of Prof. Alston' s report on extra-judicial killings, the Social Democratic Party can not rule out the possibility that the latest assassinations could be a clear and direct message to Kenyan human rights defenders to shut up or else face dire consequences. We are very concerned at the loud silence of President Mwai Kibaki on the issue of unlawful killings by our country's law enforcement agencies and consider such silence as constituting complicity in and/or official endorsement of such heinous crimes.
Along with the failure to combat grand graft, feed our people, deliver a new constitution and spearhead sustainable development, the current climate of impunity in dealing extra-judicial killings demonstrate the complete bankruptcy of the Grand Coalition government. In this light, the Social Democratic Party believes that only honourable option left is for President Mwai Kibaki along with his entire cabinet to resign immediately to pave the way for the preparations of fresh elections which must be held under the aegis of a new democratic constitution The Social Democratic Party pledges to liaise with alll patriotic, democracy loving, justice seeking groups and individuals dedicated to the task of building a new Kenya. We wish to convey our sincere mkono wa tanzia (condolences) the families of Oscar Kingara and GPO Oulu.
Sincerely,
Onyango Oloo
Secretary General
Social Democratic Party of Kenya
The Social Democratic Party of Kenya is adding its voice in denouncing the callous murder of two of Kenya's most courageous human rights activists- Oscar Kingara and GPO Oulu who were gunned down on March 5, 2009 near the residence of Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki. There are indications that the assassins may be connected to the Kenya Police given the testimony of some eye-witnesses who described a driver of one of the vehicles involved in the killings as wearing police uniform.
The Social Democratic Party is convinced that the killings of Oscar Kingara and GPO Oulu were directly connected to the advocacy and investigative role of the Oscar Foundation in unearthing concrete evidence linking members of the Kenya Police to extrajudicial killings. We think that it is NOT a coincidence that the Government Spokesman Dr. Alfred Mutua ranted and raved against the Oscar Foundation and uttered public threats against its leaders just hours before Oscar and GPO were shot in cold blood. Given the angry and contemptous dismissal by spokespeople for the police and the military of Prof. Alston' s report on extra-judicial killings, the Social Democratic Party can not rule out the possibility that the latest assassinations could be a clear and direct message to Kenyan human rights defenders to shut up or else face dire consequences. We are very concerned at the loud silence of President Mwai Kibaki on the issue of unlawful killings by our country's law enforcement agencies and consider such silence as constituting complicity in and/or official endorsement of such heinous crimes.
Along with the failure to combat grand graft, feed our people, deliver a new constitution and spearhead sustainable development, the current climate of impunity in dealing extra-judicial killings demonstrate the complete bankruptcy of the Grand Coalition government. In this light, the Social Democratic Party believes that only honourable option left is for President Mwai Kibaki along with his entire cabinet to resign immediately to pave the way for the preparations of fresh elections which must be held under the aegis of a new democratic constitution The Social Democratic Party pledges to liaise with alll patriotic, democracy loving, justice seeking groups and individuals dedicated to the task of building a new Kenya. We wish to convey our sincere mkono wa tanzia (condolences) the families of Oscar Kingara and GPO Oulu.
Sincerely,
Onyango Oloo
Secretary General
Social Democratic Party of Kenya
BY OKIYA OMTATAH OKOITI
Tribute To Oscar Kingara and GPO Oulu
Dear All,
This has got me in foul mood, literally. Oscar Kamau King'ora the CEO of Oscar Foundation and his worker GPO Oulu (he was sitting to my right hand on Thursday during the Louis Otieno show) were driving to a meeting with a commissioner of the Kenya National Commission of Human Rights whom they had called on their mobiles requesting for an audience to strategise on a formal response to the charges by Government Spokesman Alfred Mutua that their foundation was funding Mungiki. Along Mamlaka Road, outside Hall 11, their vehicle was blocked by two vehicles - a minibus and a pajero full of men - and two men walked to their car and shot them through the windows at pointblank range.
The vehicles had been trailing them. (Eyewitnesses say that the driver of the minibus was wearing a police uniform.) All the other men were in suits. They also shot another man who was walking by the road (the closest eyewitness) but the bullet went through his leg. He was later taken away by policemen but up to now we do not know where he is. This man was so close that if he is alive he could do a positive ID of both the men and their cars. We are making frantic efforts to trace his whereabouts.
Police from Central Police Station which is 1 km away have not arrive at the scene until now - more than three hours later. Oulu's body is at a clinic where he was rushed as he did not die on the spot. Oscar's body is still in the car. Some cops from Kilimani are on the scene. Those of you who defend rule by the bullet should be ashamed of yourself. Neither the State nor Mungiki nor anybody has the right to rule by the bullet. Kenya is a REPUBLIC and we must be ruled by the law.
May the good Lord rest their souls in eternal peace.
Omtatah
Dear All,
This has got me in foul mood, literally. Oscar Kamau King'ora the CEO of Oscar Foundation and his worker GPO Oulu (he was sitting to my right hand on Thursday during the Louis Otieno show) were driving to a meeting with a commissioner of the Kenya National Commission of Human Rights whom they had called on their mobiles requesting for an audience to strategise on a formal response to the charges by Government Spokesman Alfred Mutua that their foundation was funding Mungiki. Along Mamlaka Road, outside Hall 11, their vehicle was blocked by two vehicles - a minibus and a pajero full of men - and two men walked to their car and shot them through the windows at pointblank range.
The vehicles had been trailing them. (Eyewitnesses say that the driver of the minibus was wearing a police uniform.) All the other men were in suits. They also shot another man who was walking by the road (the closest eyewitness) but the bullet went through his leg. He was later taken away by policemen but up to now we do not know where he is. This man was so close that if he is alive he could do a positive ID of both the men and their cars. We are making frantic efforts to trace his whereabouts.
Police from Central Police Station which is 1 km away have not arrive at the scene until now - more than three hours later. Oulu's body is at a clinic where he was rushed as he did not die on the spot. Oscar's body is still in the car. Some cops from Kilimani are on the scene. Those of you who defend rule by the bullet should be ashamed of yourself. Neither the State nor Mungiki nor anybody has the right to rule by the bullet. Kenya is a REPUBLIC and we must be ruled by the law.
May the good Lord rest their souls in eternal peace.
Omtatah
BY EMMANUEL DENNIS
Tribute To Oscar Kingara and GPO Oulu
My Friend GPO,
On our trip to Gaborone in December 10 - 16, You will be remembered by all the African Friends as the Pan African. We went we conqured and you left a mark in many people's hearts. On 31st December we were together in Eastleigh distributing Newsletters. On 1st January you celebrated new years day doing my work. I had Lunch in your house.
Every week of 2009 we have kept in touch on what we need to do as young people to liberate ourselves. You are now gone. You inspire me even in your death. I wont let you down. I have no words, am shocked to come back and find you gone without notice. I am told you died a happy man.
Rest in Eternal Peace My Friend GPO "CHUMALIECH"
Emmanuel
My Friend GPO,
On our trip to Gaborone in December 10 - 16, You will be remembered by all the African Friends as the Pan African. We went we conqured and you left a mark in many people's hearts. On 31st December we were together in Eastleigh distributing Newsletters. On 1st January you celebrated new years day doing my work. I had Lunch in your house.
Every week of 2009 we have kept in touch on what we need to do as young people to liberate ourselves. You are now gone. You inspire me even in your death. I wont let you down. I have no words, am shocked to come back and find you gone without notice. I am told you died a happy man.
Rest in Eternal Peace My Friend GPO "CHUMALIECH"
Emmanuel
BY OTIENO ALUOKA
Dear all of you,
In honour of GPO, I ask Emmanuel Dennis and Mwalimu Mati to convene a meeting of
young Kenyans to discuss and plan what must be done. I ask for the meeting to be
held in Nairobi.
GPO, the man and his values. I will not speak about. But too is Oscar. When last I
met him, he asked me to tell what I have to about his concept of the Liberator's
movement.
Still, we may not be ready until we are all killed. That's why the FBI and Scottland
Yard could be the only 2 investigators we want to see get into this.
This being an open plattform, thugs and murderers complicit to this heinous act
could also read me along. But for the rest of us, positive actions must follow in
the 210 constituencies.
Tell the media what you knew about GPO and Oscar. Tell the world. Invite us to other
blogs and send petitions to the state house and to the white house. Internet will
help us reach the world.
Aluoka
In honour of GPO, I ask Emmanuel Dennis and Mwalimu Mati to convene a meeting of
young Kenyans to discuss and plan what must be done. I ask for the meeting to be
held in Nairobi.
GPO, the man and his values. I will not speak about. But too is Oscar. When last I
met him, he asked me to tell what I have to about his concept of the Liberator's
movement.
Still, we may not be ready until we are all killed. That's why the FBI and Scottland
Yard could be the only 2 investigators we want to see get into this.
This being an open plattform, thugs and murderers complicit to this heinous act
could also read me along. But for the rest of us, positive actions must follow in
the 210 constituencies.
Tell the media what you knew about GPO and Oscar. Tell the world. Invite us to other
blogs and send petitions to the state house and to the white house. Internet will
help us reach the world.
Aluoka
BY FWAMBA NC FWAMBA:MY TRIBUTE TO GEORGE PAUL OWEN OULU (a.k.a.OULU GPO)
http://kenyayoungvotersalliance.blogspot.com
It must have been around January of 2003 when I first met George Paul Owen Oulu (shortly referred to as Oulu GPO,) He was a first year then at the university of Nairobi kikuyu campus. He was a very jovial guy, free and confident unlike other freshers who always looked intimidated by the new university environment. I was in the first semester of my third year. We had declared that we needed revival of the student organization of Nairobi University {SONU} after it having been disbanded in 2000.so it was a great risk we had taken to be on the frontline agitating for this. For a first year it was so courageous of him and I once noted it and told him I couldn’t believe he was a fresher given his guts in addressing people who had by then spent more years at the university. I know all agitators of change are scared now (I included) but in spite of my mourning I believe as a writer I got a lot to write about my brother and comrade GPO.
When elections were later called on 7th march 2003, GPO emerged the winner as the campus representative for kikuyu campus whereas I was elected the vice chairman (academic affairs) thanks to him having helped me campaign in vote rich kikuyu campus. Therefore we became members of the SONU executive together with the following elected
Chairman Tedd Munovi,
Vice Chairman Academic Affairs-Fwamba NC Fwamba
Vice Chairman Administration-Koome Wa Mburugu
Secretary General-Makokha Wanjala
Organizing Secretary-Mwengi Mutuse
Treasurer-Tabitha Wainaina
Secretary Legal Affairs-Cornelius Lupao
Secretary Health-Dr.Onkoba Marube (Now Deceased)
Secretary for Sports/Entertainment-Juma Jombi
Secretary Gender Affairs –Purity Mukami
Campus Representative College Of Architecture and Engineering-Opata Kopata
Campus Representative College Of Humanities and Social Sciences (Main Campus)-Ngaruiya John Kamau (Later Elected Sonu Chairman)
College of Education and External Studies-(The late) Oulu GPO (Was Later Elected Sonu Vice Chairman)
Lower Kabete Campus-James Oluoch
Medical School Campus (College Of Health Sciences)-Dr.Brian Lishenga
Parklands Campus (Law School)-Gitau Gitonga
Upper Kabete Campus-Nelson Indimuli
Chiromo Campus-Nemwel Machuki (Was Later Elected Sonu Vice Chairman, Then Chairman)
That constituted the SONU executive (like SONU cabinet)
During that tenure we worked well with GPO since just like me he was a man who believed in transparency and was on the frontline in fighting corruption among student leaders and the university administration. The congress (student parliament) elected me the chairman of Public accounts committee. In that docket I got a lot of strength from GPO because he always stood by what was right. I even know today that if GPO was in Kenyan parliament, he would be amongst the 22 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.
In subsequent SONU elections I remember GPO as the most popular candidate, who used minimal resources but emerged as the winner in his docket and one with the highest margin of victory than any other member of the executive I remember as David Okindo used to joke about it all the time that when we went to campaign in Kikuyu campus, students could sing and shout GPO, GPO, GPO CONTINUOSLY without tiring regardless of who was talking. Any candidate could chant comrades’ power!!!The crowd answered GPO.Kikuyu campus was a GPO zone. it was beyond any doubt that GPO was VERY POPULAR THERE.I remember one of the last campaigns when I delayed to arrive, for the Kamukunji, Ken Orengo, Brian Lishenga, Kingwa Kamencu and Ngaruiya KJ(who were vying against me for the position of chairman)GPO himself had talked.GPO had kept the crowd waiting for me with David Okindo on the podium. When I arrived I could only see crowds singing GPO, GPO, GPO, .it was one of my most fantastic days of my campaign. We all knew that we all had supporters there but GPO had followers.
We later developed a good liking for the American rhetoric which were produced by Wafula Buke then and I distributed them at a commission from Buke.the most interesting part was the message to the grassroots where Malcolm X mocks ‘the big six’ about ‘THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON’ when Malcolm X says ‘then old tom said ‘boss I cant stop it because I never started it’ that is obviously what we would have joked about if we met on that evening of 5th march 2009 when GPO was assassinated in cold blood with the founder the Oscar Foundation.
GPO stood for the down trodden all his life especially during the time I have known him. I remember him being suspended from the university for three years for complaining against arbitrary fees increments without the university authorities caring about the peasantry background of the majority of bright university students who are usually admitted through the Joint Admissions Board.
GPO was a real comrade. He was one person you could always count on at the hour of need. As I write this I find it difficult to control my tears.
At some point together with Ken Orengo, Nemwel Machuki, GPO, Kingwa Kamencu and I helped sensitize university of Nairobi students after they had a student election rigged in favour of puppets as leaders of the union. This is when I met Isaac Otidi Amuke, one of GPO’s greatest friends too, mamluki, sissey Marvin and Susan Chege.
In recent past I remember him being one of the first people who came to central police station immediately word went around that Philo Ikonya, Patrick Kamotho and I had been arrested and beaten by the brutal police.
The following morning of 19th Feb. 2009, GPO called me and said ‘boss, its good you are fighting corruption, you just made my spirit stronger when I was just about to give up’ and I told him ‘boss we need to be patriotic enough and cause real change corruption is a serious disease in this country’.
Before the maize demonstration I asked GPO if he was going to commemorate the 44th anniversary of Malcolm Xs assassination on 21st Feb. he said the idea was great since to him just like me, Malcolm X was a great symbol of struggle for freedom justice and equality. But the whole issue was changed because on that week I got arrested demonstrating against corruption and food insecurity in the country.
I Met GPO on 22nd and he joked about our demonstration saying we would have mobilized more people. I laughed and told him what was important was the message, not necessarily big crowds. I was with Philo whom I reminded that it’s GPO who had introduced me to her back in 2007 at the Norfolk hotel during one of the civil society functions organized by the youth agenda whose CEO was Kepta Ombati then. Other prominent youth leaders had been around too like Cyprian Nyamwamu, Ndolo Asasa, Kingwa Kamencu and others.
On the tragic day while sitting with Ken Orengo, Martin Nkari and jimmy Nyikuli, Patrick Kokonya and Jeremy Oloo, I thought of talking to GPO, I called him and said’ boss, why don’t we meet, I would like us to meet’. He told me that he was on ngong road and he was going to call me immediately he got to town. So I waited for his call. At around 5pm, I called again and he told me he was on the way. When it got late I decided to call Kamotho so that we could have coffee together. We thought of going home then while on the way along Koinange street I got a call from Kelly musyoka.So I left Orengo,Martin and jimmy then together with Kamotho we joined gaceke,odipo and Kelly whom we had been with earlier.gaceke received a phone call from George Nyongesa who informed that some people had been shot at the university. as I moved out of kikwetu I got a call from philo Ikonya who asked me if I had heard anything about GPO,I told her I had just talked to him wanted for him but I was going home because he hadn’t shown up. I assumed he got busy with something else.Philo told me Kingwa had told her GPO might have been harmed, that he might have been shot. I called Kingwa right away who told me GPO had been shot. But she didn’t sound so certain. I got worried and asked George Nyongesa who told me he was at the scene at the university and GPO had BEEN shot…DEAD!!!I broke down in town, Kamotho tried to calm me down. I was with Kamotho all that time. March 5TH 2009 was one of the worst days in my life since I was born.
, The ever happy GPO, The man full of jokes, the man full of wisdom is gone, gone.
Rest in Peace GPO, You are my man…
It must have been around January of 2003 when I first met George Paul Owen Oulu (shortly referred to as Oulu GPO,) He was a first year then at the university of Nairobi kikuyu campus. He was a very jovial guy, free and confident unlike other freshers who always looked intimidated by the new university environment. I was in the first semester of my third year. We had declared that we needed revival of the student organization of Nairobi University {SONU} after it having been disbanded in 2000.so it was a great risk we had taken to be on the frontline agitating for this. For a first year it was so courageous of him and I once noted it and told him I couldn’t believe he was a fresher given his guts in addressing people who had by then spent more years at the university. I know all agitators of change are scared now (I included) but in spite of my mourning I believe as a writer I got a lot to write about my brother and comrade GPO.
When elections were later called on 7th march 2003, GPO emerged the winner as the campus representative for kikuyu campus whereas I was elected the vice chairman (academic affairs) thanks to him having helped me campaign in vote rich kikuyu campus. Therefore we became members of the SONU executive together with the following elected
Chairman Tedd Munovi,
Vice Chairman Academic Affairs-Fwamba NC Fwamba
Vice Chairman Administration-Koome Wa Mburugu
Secretary General-Makokha Wanjala
Organizing Secretary-Mwengi Mutuse
Treasurer-Tabitha Wainaina
Secretary Legal Affairs-Cornelius Lupao
Secretary Health-Dr.Onkoba Marube (Now Deceased)
Secretary for Sports/Entertainment-Juma Jombi
Secretary Gender Affairs –Purity Mukami
Campus Representative College Of Architecture and Engineering-Opata Kopata
Campus Representative College Of Humanities and Social Sciences (Main Campus)-Ngaruiya John Kamau (Later Elected Sonu Chairman)
College of Education and External Studies-(The late) Oulu GPO (Was Later Elected Sonu Vice Chairman)
Lower Kabete Campus-James Oluoch
Medical School Campus (College Of Health Sciences)-Dr.Brian Lishenga
Parklands Campus (Law School)-Gitau Gitonga
Upper Kabete Campus-Nelson Indimuli
Chiromo Campus-Nemwel Machuki (Was Later Elected Sonu Vice Chairman, Then Chairman)
That constituted the SONU executive (like SONU cabinet)
During that tenure we worked well with GPO since just like me he was a man who believed in transparency and was on the frontline in fighting corruption among student leaders and the university administration. The congress (student parliament) elected me the chairman of Public accounts committee. In that docket I got a lot of strength from GPO because he always stood by what was right. I even know today that if GPO was in Kenyan parliament, he would be amongst the 22 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.
In subsequent SONU elections I remember GPO as the most popular candidate, who used minimal resources but emerged as the winner in his docket and one with the highest margin of victory than any other member of the executive I remember as David Okindo used to joke about it all the time that when we went to campaign in Kikuyu campus, students could sing and shout GPO, GPO, GPO CONTINUOSLY without tiring regardless of who was talking. Any candidate could chant comrades’ power!!!The crowd answered GPO.Kikuyu campus was a GPO zone. it was beyond any doubt that GPO was VERY POPULAR THERE.I remember one of the last campaigns when I delayed to arrive, for the Kamukunji, Ken Orengo, Brian Lishenga, Kingwa Kamencu and Ngaruiya KJ(who were vying against me for the position of chairman)GPO himself had talked.GPO had kept the crowd waiting for me with David Okindo on the podium. When I arrived I could only see crowds singing GPO, GPO, GPO, .it was one of my most fantastic days of my campaign. We all knew that we all had supporters there but GPO had followers.
We later developed a good liking for the American rhetoric which were produced by Wafula Buke then and I distributed them at a commission from Buke.the most interesting part was the message to the grassroots where Malcolm X mocks ‘the big six’ about ‘THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON’ when Malcolm X says ‘then old tom said ‘boss I cant stop it because I never started it’ that is obviously what we would have joked about if we met on that evening of 5th march 2009 when GPO was assassinated in cold blood with the founder the Oscar Foundation.
GPO stood for the down trodden all his life especially during the time I have known him. I remember him being suspended from the university for three years for complaining against arbitrary fees increments without the university authorities caring about the peasantry background of the majority of bright university students who are usually admitted through the Joint Admissions Board.
GPO was a real comrade. He was one person you could always count on at the hour of need. As I write this I find it difficult to control my tears.
At some point together with Ken Orengo, Nemwel Machuki, GPO, Kingwa Kamencu and I helped sensitize university of Nairobi students after they had a student election rigged in favour of puppets as leaders of the union. This is when I met Isaac Otidi Amuke, one of GPO’s greatest friends too, mamluki, sissey Marvin and Susan Chege.
In recent past I remember him being one of the first people who came to central police station immediately word went around that Philo Ikonya, Patrick Kamotho and I had been arrested and beaten by the brutal police.
The following morning of 19th Feb. 2009, GPO called me and said ‘boss, its good you are fighting corruption, you just made my spirit stronger when I was just about to give up’ and I told him ‘boss we need to be patriotic enough and cause real change corruption is a serious disease in this country’.
Before the maize demonstration I asked GPO if he was going to commemorate the 44th anniversary of Malcolm Xs assassination on 21st Feb. he said the idea was great since to him just like me, Malcolm X was a great symbol of struggle for freedom justice and equality. But the whole issue was changed because on that week I got arrested demonstrating against corruption and food insecurity in the country.
I Met GPO on 22nd and he joked about our demonstration saying we would have mobilized more people. I laughed and told him what was important was the message, not necessarily big crowds. I was with Philo whom I reminded that it’s GPO who had introduced me to her back in 2007 at the Norfolk hotel during one of the civil society functions organized by the youth agenda whose CEO was Kepta Ombati then. Other prominent youth leaders had been around too like Cyprian Nyamwamu, Ndolo Asasa, Kingwa Kamencu and others.
On the tragic day while sitting with Ken Orengo, Martin Nkari and jimmy Nyikuli, Patrick Kokonya and Jeremy Oloo, I thought of talking to GPO, I called him and said’ boss, why don’t we meet, I would like us to meet’. He told me that he was on ngong road and he was going to call me immediately he got to town. So I waited for his call. At around 5pm, I called again and he told me he was on the way. When it got late I decided to call Kamotho so that we could have coffee together. We thought of going home then while on the way along Koinange street I got a call from Kelly musyoka.So I left Orengo,Martin and jimmy then together with Kamotho we joined gaceke,odipo and Kelly whom we had been with earlier.gaceke received a phone call from George Nyongesa who informed that some people had been shot at the university. as I moved out of kikwetu I got a call from philo Ikonya who asked me if I had heard anything about GPO,I told her I had just talked to him wanted for him but I was going home because he hadn’t shown up. I assumed he got busy with something else.Philo told me Kingwa had told her GPO might have been harmed, that he might have been shot. I called Kingwa right away who told me GPO had been shot. But she didn’t sound so certain. I got worried and asked George Nyongesa who told me he was at the scene at the university and GPO had BEEN shot…DEAD!!!I broke down in town, Kamotho tried to calm me down. I was with Kamotho all that time. March 5TH 2009 was one of the worst days in my life since I was born.
, The ever happy GPO, The man full of jokes, the man full of wisdom is gone, gone.
Rest in Peace GPO, You are my man…
BY MAKOKHA WANJALA:REFLECTIONS ON THE LIFE OF OULU GPO
REFLECTIONS ON THE LIFE OF OULU GPO
Generations after us will always ask who Oulu GPO was. Our answers will be varied depending on which side of which side of the game we played. For me I had the opportune of seeing Oulu at close range. He served in the same student government as I did. He was at that time the Campus Rep Kikuyu campus. I recall during my own campaigns when I had been threatened by the Summit in Kikuyu that I was not going to be able to address the last Kamukunji…. It was GPO who came to my rescue. In fact I recall vividly that my clarion call of the right to be heard does not include to the right to be taken seriously was coined then.
GPO was to be a regular in our student parliament chaired by Mr. Speaker the Hon. Daktari Murage. He had problems with this thing of collective responsibility and many times though speaking from the executive benches he spoke more or less like an independent minded Member of Parliament. My memory could fail but I faintly recall that he must have joined forces with Fwamba when the latter wanted to Head PAC and PIC committees yet he was the Deputy SONU President. We went through a whole a year with our struggles sometimes serving students and at other times regrettably we served ourselves. Oulu was no angel; he too made his fair share of mistakes then. His mistakes however never took him away from a ground of fighting for human rights.
We must have been with Oulu in Mbarara University when SONU went calling for a two weeks seminar. There like anyone who has been out of the country we all became patriotic defending the nation. Many of us retired from student service when GPO upped up his scale to the position of vice-chairperson. Personally when I took up employment with the University, Oulu sought me out and I had to explain to him. The upshot is that I had taken up a job for which I was qualified and had gone through the interview process. I do not pretend that those who interviewed me were not known to me before hand but their decision remains theirs only.
When he earned a suspension from the University, Oulu joined a group of a few but very dedicated individuals who believe injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. That he had fallen out with university management was remarkable, but that he had fallen out with a regime that is headed by his tribesman was truly inspirational. I was at the inauguration of SONU officials where the University management ordered security to make Oulu leave. Oulu had come dressed in a white suit, and he joined in coming straight to main dais. As he was escorted out I wondered whether or not his white suit was not symbolic. It was. It reminded us of two things that the silence of the current students had combined with the leadership of the institution in choosing a very dark colour by repelling the white suit Oulu had carefully chosen for the day.
As with all suspensions, the management granted amnesty and Oulu was readmitted back but of course with a condition that he never vies for a SONU position. I thought Oulu would not accept such injustice and in fact when he reported to campus I sought him out. His response lingers on. He intimated that he had discovered the University was such a small theater in which to fight for human rights. He had expanded his horizon to the nation. He had joined the human rights forum at the national front. His horizon was bigger and UON had receded and he saw no reason to cry over a microcosm. But he maintained an active role and interest in student affairs. Tragedy would have it that at time of his death Oulu was still a student at UON. In a way the journey to a degree parallels his fight for human rights. Both the struggles stalled mid term.
As fate would have it, I could not be at his graveside to witness the journey of Oulu back to the earth. I had shared many struggles with him that it was painful not to be there and participate in the ceremonies of burying yet again picking the baton from this gallant son of Kenya. Twin fateful coincidence was that on the same day I was laying to rest the remains of another great Kenyan. My Dad. The phonecall that Oulu had passed on way relayed to me by Lillian. She had seen a news flash that a former student leader had been gunned down. She had assumed it was me. Not long later Mbogori called and asked me to clarify at least to my friends that I had not been gunned down. I placed a call to Fwamba and the sad news weighed in that our GPO was no more. Much of the following hours were spent on phone relaying and at times confirming that indeed Oulu had gone before us.
This morning as I looked at my Album I was astounded to see a photograph of myself, Oulu and Hussein Ali. It occurred to me that at the Machakos retreat for new SONU leaders Oulu had come so close to man whose boys would later be accused of slaying him in cold blood. It has never been concluded and I know stories of vanguards never escape ambiguity. We will never know for sure who killed Osar Kang’ara and Oulu but we can use a method of interpolation to at least arrive at a culpable group.
As his birthday anniversary comes up this week, it behoves all of to remember that God allowed us to eulogize this great soul so that we can pick up the battle. A careful reading of the bible has led me to conclude that God never works through committees. There is no task greater than one person. What Oulu was fighting for falls on your shoulders as an individual, pick up the task for you are equal to it. Among my friends who would make a cabal around me but who have proceeded before us is another strong and determined medical doctor Onkoba Marube. He too was in the same SONU cabinet. God may be calling on us but those who remain must as always carry on. I will mourn the twin coincidence of the deaths of Oulu and my Dad in fruitful knowledge that in their company I learnt much. I reserve these words for my Comrade Oulu.
“GPO, you will be remembered as a man who had a presence of mind to overcome his immediate challenges of seeking education, looking for rent, looking for money for ailing parents,
As a man whose debilitating poverty was no reason to take a shortcut to wealth.
As a man who though not eloquent was succinctly clear on what was important not for his being but for the unborn generation of Kenyans.
We will remember you not because we choose to, not because it is an honour but because in facing and securing a better future for Kenya’s children we see you everywhere. Personally I see you in any quest for justice.
Go ye… in remembrance of those before us who did so much and paid the ultimate in a quest for a better life for our children to play our various roles in shaping the nation
Generations after us will always ask who Oulu GPO was. Our answers will be varied depending on which side of which side of the game we played. For me I had the opportune of seeing Oulu at close range. He served in the same student government as I did. He was at that time the Campus Rep Kikuyu campus. I recall during my own campaigns when I had been threatened by the Summit in Kikuyu that I was not going to be able to address the last Kamukunji…. It was GPO who came to my rescue. In fact I recall vividly that my clarion call of the right to be heard does not include to the right to be taken seriously was coined then.
GPO was to be a regular in our student parliament chaired by Mr. Speaker the Hon. Daktari Murage. He had problems with this thing of collective responsibility and many times though speaking from the executive benches he spoke more or less like an independent minded Member of Parliament. My memory could fail but I faintly recall that he must have joined forces with Fwamba when the latter wanted to Head PAC and PIC committees yet he was the Deputy SONU President. We went through a whole a year with our struggles sometimes serving students and at other times regrettably we served ourselves. Oulu was no angel; he too made his fair share of mistakes then. His mistakes however never took him away from a ground of fighting for human rights.
We must have been with Oulu in Mbarara University when SONU went calling for a two weeks seminar. There like anyone who has been out of the country we all became patriotic defending the nation. Many of us retired from student service when GPO upped up his scale to the position of vice-chairperson. Personally when I took up employment with the University, Oulu sought me out and I had to explain to him. The upshot is that I had taken up a job for which I was qualified and had gone through the interview process. I do not pretend that those who interviewed me were not known to me before hand but their decision remains theirs only.
When he earned a suspension from the University, Oulu joined a group of a few but very dedicated individuals who believe injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. That he had fallen out with university management was remarkable, but that he had fallen out with a regime that is headed by his tribesman was truly inspirational. I was at the inauguration of SONU officials where the University management ordered security to make Oulu leave. Oulu had come dressed in a white suit, and he joined in coming straight to main dais. As he was escorted out I wondered whether or not his white suit was not symbolic. It was. It reminded us of two things that the silence of the current students had combined with the leadership of the institution in choosing a very dark colour by repelling the white suit Oulu had carefully chosen for the day.
As with all suspensions, the management granted amnesty and Oulu was readmitted back but of course with a condition that he never vies for a SONU position. I thought Oulu would not accept such injustice and in fact when he reported to campus I sought him out. His response lingers on. He intimated that he had discovered the University was such a small theater in which to fight for human rights. He had expanded his horizon to the nation. He had joined the human rights forum at the national front. His horizon was bigger and UON had receded and he saw no reason to cry over a microcosm. But he maintained an active role and interest in student affairs. Tragedy would have it that at time of his death Oulu was still a student at UON. In a way the journey to a degree parallels his fight for human rights. Both the struggles stalled mid term.
As fate would have it, I could not be at his graveside to witness the journey of Oulu back to the earth. I had shared many struggles with him that it was painful not to be there and participate in the ceremonies of burying yet again picking the baton from this gallant son of Kenya. Twin fateful coincidence was that on the same day I was laying to rest the remains of another great Kenyan. My Dad. The phonecall that Oulu had passed on way relayed to me by Lillian. She had seen a news flash that a former student leader had been gunned down. She had assumed it was me. Not long later Mbogori called and asked me to clarify at least to my friends that I had not been gunned down. I placed a call to Fwamba and the sad news weighed in that our GPO was no more. Much of the following hours were spent on phone relaying and at times confirming that indeed Oulu had gone before us.
This morning as I looked at my Album I was astounded to see a photograph of myself, Oulu and Hussein Ali. It occurred to me that at the Machakos retreat for new SONU leaders Oulu had come so close to man whose boys would later be accused of slaying him in cold blood. It has never been concluded and I know stories of vanguards never escape ambiguity. We will never know for sure who killed Osar Kang’ara and Oulu but we can use a method of interpolation to at least arrive at a culpable group.
As his birthday anniversary comes up this week, it behoves all of to remember that God allowed us to eulogize this great soul so that we can pick up the battle. A careful reading of the bible has led me to conclude that God never works through committees. There is no task greater than one person. What Oulu was fighting for falls on your shoulders as an individual, pick up the task for you are equal to it. Among my friends who would make a cabal around me but who have proceeded before us is another strong and determined medical doctor Onkoba Marube. He too was in the same SONU cabinet. God may be calling on us but those who remain must as always carry on. I will mourn the twin coincidence of the deaths of Oulu and my Dad in fruitful knowledge that in their company I learnt much. I reserve these words for my Comrade Oulu.
“GPO, you will be remembered as a man who had a presence of mind to overcome his immediate challenges of seeking education, looking for rent, looking for money for ailing parents,
As a man whose debilitating poverty was no reason to take a shortcut to wealth.
As a man who though not eloquent was succinctly clear on what was important not for his being but for the unborn generation of Kenyans.
We will remember you not because we choose to, not because it is an honour but because in facing and securing a better future for Kenya’s children we see you everywhere. Personally I see you in any quest for justice.
Go ye… in remembrance of those before us who did so much and paid the ultimate in a quest for a better life for our children to play our various roles in shaping the nation
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