THE MEMORIAL OF OULU,OSCAR AND OGATO:DOCUMENTED BY BENEDICT WACHIRA

Report on the 1st memorial commemoration of Oulu GPO, Oscar King’ara and Gordwin Ogato, held on 5th and 6th March 2010
5th March 2010
Assembly and Tree planting at freedom corner
Most people had arrived at freedom corner by 10:50am (including the media), and the tree planting event began at exactly 11:10am, with singing the National anthem, and the freedom song. The MCs were George Nyongesa and Gacheke Gachihi.
The first tree to be planting was that in memory of GPO, which was planted by Booker Ngesa, and Okoiti Omtatah, and they both paid some tribute to the fallen hero.
The second tree was planted by Benedict Wachira, Gitobu Imanyara and Wamagata. It was a tree in honor of Oscar Kamau King’ara. Gitobu Imanyara paid tribute to the three heroes.
The third tree was in memory of Gordwin Ogato, and it was planted by Clive Ombane, Keli Musyoka and George Nyongesa, they all paid their tributes.
The forth tree was the tree of the struggle. It was planted by Gacheke Gichihi, Fwamba NC Fwamba and Cyprian Nyamwamu. Nyamwamu paid tribute to all the fallen heroes in the Kenyan struggle.

Procession
Immediately after the tree planting ceremony, the peaceful procession begun, calmly taking Uhuru Highway, University way, Statehouse road and ending at the shooting site. Songs and chants during the procession were led by Nyamwamu.

At the site
The national anthem was sung again at the assassination site, and Benedict Wachira led the lighting of candles.
More songs were sung at the site, including Dr Dan’s revolution song. Larry Liza and Lydia Mathia performed some wonderful poems in honor of the heroes.
The central police station OCS appeared at the scene, and reminded the attendants that they were by then remaining with less than 20 minutes.
Makokha Wanjala read out his tribute to GPO, King’ara and Ogato. Fwamba NC, Susan Kariuki and George Omondi later reminisced about GPO.
As the event came to a close, announcements were done, and Fwamba gave out Ndung’u Wainaina’s contribution of kshs1000. Booker said that those who had pledged cash could still send the cash.
All those travelling to Kisumu rural were asked to assemble at KNT at 7:00pm.

Assembly at KNT
Travelers assembled at KNT, had some photo sessions at around 8pm, and left at 8:15. They left in a 45-seater bus from the Crown Bus company, and a 14-seater matatu from Mololine.

The voyage
Those in the crown bus travelled while rehearsing struggle and freedom songs. This was led by Sophie.
There was a 20 minute stopover in Nakuru, and the journey continued uninterrupted up to Kisumu City. The arrival time at Kisumu was 3:30am. Guys killed some time walking around in Kisumu, and later Myke Ogut appeared and announced that he had organised some place where the ladies could take some shower and freshen up. This happened (and interestingly there were no complaints or concerns raised from the men!)

Holo market
The Bus and the Matatu left for GPO’s at around 9:15am. There was a stop at Holo market, where guys sung the songs that had been rehearsed in the Bus, and later Myke and Booker spoke about GPO and our mission there, in Dholuo.

Mzee Oulu’s home
Guys were welcomed to Mzee Oulu’s home by primary school children, and led to the home where neighbours were waiting for them.
They went straight to GPO’s grave, where they held a short prayer session. Fwamba told the mourning crowd of his last discussions with GPO. Abok also spoke of the type of person that GPO was.
Later guys went back to the compound, and sat in some well arranged chairs and had some breakfast, while listening to some music.
Myke and Keli went to the market to buy some food for lunch, while Booker ,Fwamba and the lady taking care of GPO’s mother went to open a bank account for GPO’s mother at Kisumu, where they deposited kshs60, 000. The account name is 01109294810100, Magret Olisha Oulu, Cooperative bank of Kenya. (so, if anyone would like to contribute anything towards GPO’s mother’s medical expenses, they can just deposit to this account.)
GPO’s father had earlier said that there was a hospice where his wife was in the past being taken care of, but she was now at home since they could no longer afford the kshs3, 000 monthly charges. It was agreed that the process of taking her back to the hospice should begin.
As everyone else waited for them to come back, Kamotho of Bunge la mwanachi took the microphone, and began giving some civic education talk to those present.
Lunch was later served, and Myke Ogut gave a long speech in Dholuo. This was followed y more speeches from the elders in the area. A small fundraising was then held, and both GPO’s parents spoke to those present. Both their speeches were full of gratitude and happiness towards the visit.
GPO’s father said that he still wanted to know who and why his son was killed. He expressed his disappointments with how the government had since handled the issue. He expressed his love for his son, and said that he is still struggling to come to terms with the reality.
GPO’s mother, reminisced a bit about her son, saying that she was happy that her son had been doing some good work in Nairobi. She also said that GPO’s nature of courage was taken after her. She said that we were now her sons and daughters, and that the doors are always open to us. She appreciated the fact that those who at the burial had promised to go back and visit her had delivered on their promise.
She also said that she is sick but strong, and that should she pass on, we should go back and bury her, since the person who was supposed to do that had been shot and died before her.
She wound up by saying that two hens be caught and given to us, (By the side, she had proposed that one of the hens to go to hon. Orengo, and we agreed with her that the other would go to Njeri Kabeberi, we unfortunately left before the hens could be caught)
(Both their speeches were actually very deep, and are the type that makes one question himself whether it is really worth it to join/continue with the struggle for the emancipation of this country, the type of question which might break, or make one stronger.)

Finally, led by the parents, a wreath was laid at the grave, and final prayers were held.
The rest left for the buses, but a few guys remained behind, had some chat with the parents, and gave them the remaining kshs10, 000 in cash.

Departure
The buses left at around 6pm, arrived in Kisumu city before seven, and all the travelers agreed that they would meet at 10pm.
The bus left Kisumu at 10:30pm, and arrived in Nairobi at around 4am. The journey was safe and smooth.

All those who participated in one way or the other should avail themselves for an evaluation meeting, on 9th Tuesday, March 2010, at Wasanii restaurant, from 6pm. This meeting will be very important, and everyone should try their best to attend it.

Benedict Wachira