BY FWAMBA NC FWAMBA:THE 1ST ANNIVERSARY

OULU GPO 1ST ANNIVERSARY...............................................................................................................................................................

Heroes never die. They just rest .It lingered in my mind as I stood at the graveside of Oulu GPO 365 days after he was assasinated. The portrait of Oulu GPO at the grave made the memories so alive that it seemed to me like we were talking to GPO only that this time round, he chose to say nothing but just listen.

Despite her pain and battling with cancer, Oulu ’s mother was happy to have us around and kept on addressing us as his sons and daughters who stand in GPO’s stead. She said GPO was her only hope, her only son. She asked one of our friends who has also been keen on assisting her since she first got hospitalized. She told him to come and occupy the house that belonged to her son, she asked him to take the piece of land that was GPO’s birthright as per Luo inheritance customs. She repeated this same line to another colleague. She said we shouldn’t leave her alone. We should stand up for her as GPO always did.

Mama Magret Olisha Oulu is a strong woman. She is an admirable person, a person who automatically makes you know that some of the greatest qualities in a person are sometimes shared with their parents.

By 4th evening, we weren’t sure whether the police were going to co-operate and allow us to do the commemorations peacefully. Dann Mwangi had been assigned the role of ensuring the notification of the police. He had done that in time. He had officially handed over the letter addressed to the OCS of Kilimani of our intentions to have the memorial at the site where GPO, King’ara and later Ogato were killed. Since the event was going to include a procession, we chose to inform the provincial police officer Mr.Kibuchi by taking the copy we had given to Kilimani Officer Commanding Station. The provincial police officer; through Mr.Mbithi instructed his juniors to approve our procession and offer us security. We congregated at freedom corner as we had scheduled.

The media had been well mobilized; Through Makeke Jeff, Nicholas Oyoo and Nancy Muigei.The day’s events were moderated by George Nyongesa in three parts; tree planting at freedom corner, procession to the site where they were killed and the commemorations through prayers, speeches, poetry and songs.

The tree planting coordination was done by Dan Otieno together with the rest of the youth group Oulu started before his demise; the Young People’s Forum. The tree dedicated to Oulu GPO was planted by Okiya Omtatah Okoiti and Booker Ngesa.Benedict Wachira, Hon .Gitobu Imanyara and Wamagata planted the tree in honor of King’ara. George Nyongesa, Clive Gisairo and Keli Musyoka planted the tree dedicated to Gordwin Ogato.in dedication to all people who have dedicated to bringing change in Kenya, the fourth tree; the tree of justice was planted by, Fwamba NC Fwamba and Gacheke Gachihi and Cyprian Nyamwamu.Speeches calling for justice were made by Cyprian,Keli,Clive,Omtatah and Hon.Gitobu Imanyara.



After speeches in dedication to the trees, the procession started from freedom corner at 11.50AM.we marched along Uhuru highway, university way, nyerere road and eventually state house road to the spot near hall 11 of the university of Nairobi where Oulu , Oscar and Ogato were gunned down. The session went on smoothly and peaceful except when the police wanted to unnecessarily provoke us, a situation Omtatah helped me handle. At the site we lit candles and spread messages. Benedict Wachira made preliminary remarks,Makokha Wanjala gave the keynote speech, Larry Liza and Lydia Mathia and Khainga O’kwemba led the poems session while Dr.Dan sang the revolutionary song dedicated to Oulu , Oscar and Ogato. After all the candles had melted down, we prayed, sang the national anthem and left to prepare to travel.

In the evening we convened to start our journey to visit comrade Oulu ’s parents .The leadership of Keli Musyoka who coordinated with Njeri Kabeberi made the transport possible. We made a resolution that as GPO’s friends we should lobby all Kenyans of goodwill and also lobby members of parliament to pursue all routes of justice including a special text message to Kenyan legislators reading:



We, friends of Oulu GPO who was shot dead along with King’ara&Ogato,on the 1st anniv.since the deaths, request u2 assist in pursuit of justice thru’ parliament



A number of legislators including Hon.Jakoyo Midiwo, Hon.Martha Karua and Hon.Mutula Kilonzo have sent positive responses. We hope they will act. Everyone is encouraged to send the same message to as many legislators as possible.



If you visit the Oulu home; you will really wonder why they decided to kill the man in his youthful days.GPO was the only hope of his family, the torch bearer, the light and the bread winner especially for his ailing mum who happened to be very close with her son.Oulu’s mother has been suffering from cancer and some of you can remember how GPO worked so hard to raise funds for her medication.

After leaving Nairobi on the evening of 5th, we arrived in Kisumu city at about 3am.we resolved to stay in town till dawn. When it dawned we left for Kadawa village where comrade Oulu rests. We had a stop over at Holo where we addressed a gathering with the main speech from Booker who was able to address locals in fluent dholuo.When we arrived home we sang and mourned as we marched slowly to the grave of Oulu GPO .At the graveside we Gacheke and I (Fwamba NC Fwamba) made speeches in honor of comrade GPO.The program here was moderated by Booker Ngesa with the help of Mike Ogut.

When we got home she was really happy. She was so delighted to meet some of our colleagues and she identified those she already knew with fondness. Among them was Booker Ngesa whom she referred to as JaGem, meaning man from Gem. Booker had visited mama Magret in hospital many times when her son was still alive and that is why she referred to him as ‘my Son, my Paul’(Paul is the preferred name that Mama Magret used to call her late son).

6TH March, 2010 was a Saturday so banks were going to close at noon.Gacheke, Booker, Dewrence (mama Magret’s kin) and I (Fwamba NC Fwamba) decided to take Oulu ’s mum to the bank, then to hospital. The program went on while we were away. Mike Ogut was in charge of the affairs at home. While on the way we discussed a lot. She told us that we shouldn’t forsake her. She kept talking about issues of her health. We encouraged her. She had a hearty chat with Gacheke.somewhere on the way after the Kisiani junction, Gacheke received a phone call from his mother (Gacheke’s mother) Gacheke explained to his mom on about his mission in Kisumu and he asked his mum to talk(the discussion of mothers)to GPO’s mum on phone. They talked with a lot of friendliness, despite them having never met. She told Gacheke’s mum that she was offering land and a house to Gacheke (the birthright that was originally entitled to GPO. She said that if should she pass on, we should ensure that she gets a decent burial and get enough food for the mourners. She said we should continue standing strong to defend justice for all people, just like Paul always did.

When we neared Kisumu town she was so tired. She kept on saying ‘aol’(meaning-‘I am tired’)she felt like throwing up but didn’t vomit. We did our best to keep encouraging her. She told us that we should continue standing by her just like her son always did. She told us not to leave her rot in a mortuary just in case she died. She talked a lot about death and the role we should play in her funeral. We assured her that we shall stand by her and do our best for her to continue getting medication until hopefully she recovers. We told her of other friends who had made significant contributions to make our journey to see her. We mentioned hon. James Orengo’s contribution of ksh.50, 000; we talked about Njeri Kabeberi’s role through CMD in helping us with transport to ensure that at least 60 of us from Nairobi were able to travel to and fro. We mentioned to her of the way you people have cared about her. We told her of how some of you like Philo Ikonya keep on enquiring about her state of health. We told her of some of you who are out of the country like (Dr.Ochuodho and Philo) but still managed to make your contributions availed to her. We shared about how a number of you have been coming to meetings, contributing money and ideas thus making our mission to meet her successful. She felt so loved that she told us to pass the message of gratitude to you. She said we should stand by her and help her in facing the challenges of losing her favorite child who happened to be her greatest hope and greatest inspiration when he was alive.

We got to Kisumu town. We entered the cooperative bank. We held her side by side since she is not able to walk alone. Gacheke was carrying the 50,000 that was given by Hon Orengo. booker withdrew the money that was meant for food at home and the additional sum that was to be given to comrade Oulu’s parents and the 10,000 that was eventually added to make the deposited sum 60,000(the contribution that came from us-friends of GPO).we were served by a guy who was in charge of account opening very well. He did. When I explained the situation to them, they understood. The accounts opening guy was privy to the circumstances of Oulu ’s death and he fast tracked the process due to the urgency to mama Magret’s state of health. After the opening account procedure we shared responsibilities so that I remained in the process of depositing the cash while Gacheke, Dewrence and booker took GPO’s mum to hospital. a young man by name of Victor Baraza processed the account opening and facilitated the deposit of 60,000.that now makes it possible for people of goodwill to assist GPO’s mum directly by depositing money on an account which she has direct control. That will also help in facilitating her medication process and we believe that if good medication (which is relatively expensive) is given, then she will get better.

Her account details are: Co-Operative Bank: Branch-Kisumu

Account Number: 01109294810100

Account Name: Magret Olisha Oulu .

We gave Dewrence, the responsibility to help her and also communicate to us whenever necessary.

All of you are encouraged to deposit your money directly on this account, but inform other group members and friends about it. The main purpose is to help mama Magret get quality medication in her battle with cancer. Those who have made the pledges can chose from now henceforth deposit on this account and or Mpesa on the mama Magret’s phone number or even communicate with her on 0710314264 just to encourage her. She is a strong woman.

When Booker, Gacheke, Dewrence and mama Magret came back, I had finished the depositing process. I did the photocopy of the deposit slip and gave her the original copy of the slip for her to keep safely.

We left Kisumu city after this. The program at home was going on as per schedule. The rest of the team proceeded to join others at home as I remained at Holo charging the camera battery. Booker dropped them at home and returned to the city to collect the wreaths.

While in Kisumu city he was joined by Makokha Wanjala who had used a different route coming. They left Kisumu together and picked me at Holo.at about 4pm, we joined others at home. When we arrived, GPO’s dad had just finished addressing the comrades we traveled with and the village friends who had joined our commemoration. When Booker, Makokha and I arrived it was GPO’s mum speaking. She asked the people to continue being close to her, she asked for the justice to be done about the people who killed her son. She offered us two chicken to go with.

After her speech we marched to the graveside with freedom songs by Sophie Dowler, Gacheke, Keli and Jacob Odipo.Mulialia Okumu and Agwambo Odera led the camera crew. DVDs of this event will be available soon.

Booker led in the laying of wreaths, with a final speech by Makokha Wanjala.

Sophie Dowler, Benedict Wachira, Booker Ngesa, Fwamba NC Fwamba, Gacheke Gachihi, and Makokha Wanjala had a short session with the parents of GPO.We handed over cash; through Booker, Ksh 5,000 to GPO’s dad and Ksh 5,000 to GPO’s mum. in Kisumu we met Otieno Aluoka who was returning from a funeral of the father of one of his friends. We relaxed in Kisumu city and at about 11pm we left for Nairobi where we all safely arrived at about 5.am.

That marked the end of the first anniversary since GPO Oulu was killed by people who have not yet been brought to justice.

Viva la Oulu GPO.La Hasta Victoria Siempre.



Fwamba NC Fwamba.