The new year 2018 has began on a bad note, and just in about 17 days out of the possible 365 days of 2018 already we have lost more than 5 celebs.
In three weeks into January, we have so far reported 6 deaths of prominent Kenyans, find the list below
1.Gabriel Omollo
Veteran Zilizopendwa musician passed on 3rd Wednesday in a Busia county health facility after a short illness moments after he welcomed his 2018 new year.
The news of his demise at 79 years old cut deeply and painfully into the hearts of his fans like a hot knife in butter. As Africans believe, there is no good justifiable reason why a person should die especially when he is loved by all and sundry.
Below are 10 interesting and chilling facts about the veteran musician.
1.Gabriel passed on at Busia referral hospital as her helpless widow watched over him, he hailed from Nyabeda Village in Uholo, Ugunja, Siaya County.
2.He sung the Zilizopendwa genre which was widely hit with his record breaking single Sasa Ni Lunch Time
3.He was born and raised in Nairobi’s Muthurwa market centre, since 1939
4. In 1960, he joined a famous band named Equator Sound Band which catapulted his career to the roofs
5.He also joined hands with top flight musicians such as Daudi Kabaka, Fadhili William, Zambian legend Nashil Pichen Kazembe and Peter Tsoti .
6.He was also featured in the Pole Musa hit as a lead bass guitarist which had been composed with Tsotsi
7.He also worked with other top bands such as Eagles band Blue Shades and later Apollo Komesha band.
8.He received his major award in 1974 when the sale of Lunch Time went above 150K copies in East and West Africa. International Golden Disc Award which was followed by Guinness Stout Effort Award in the same year
9.Gabriel Amollo performed at the first Mashujaa Day in 2010 after the promulgation of the new constitution. He later received Head of State Commendation (HSC)
10.He spent his last days on earth at Ugunja, Siaya County his home place mainly writing ,singing songs and playing his guitar
Original Kenyan music died the day these great artists were branded wakora & denied state support.. pic.twitter.com/IOhIbOiA82
— Dr Boni Khalwale, CBS (@KBonimtetezi) January 5, 2018
2.Bandari FC Manager Gabriel Obwaka
Alfred Obwaka Achayo died after watching the thrilling match between Arsenal and Chelsea FC in the Premier League.
Bandari FC head coach is said to have collapsed in the bathroom then and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Mewa Hospital on Wednesday night.
The Deceased together with his technical team had watched the game from his house in Majengo together with his wife.
The match had ended in a 2-2 draw where Arsenal played as hosts from the Emirates stadium
3.Saliva Vic
On the eve of 2018, the evil hand of death once again claimed a life of our celebrity, Jeremy Odhiambo aka Saliva Vic.
Here are 5 facts you should know about him
- Saliva Vic died on 31,December 2017 as we prepared to usher in 2018.
- The news of his death was broken by his former bae Ciru Muriuki who is now at K24
- There was romours that he committed suicide
- Jeremy worked at Homeboyz and Hits Fm
- He has a brother Nick Ndeda who is also a radio presenter
https://www.facebook.com/ciru.muriuki/posts/10212435240050857
Jeremy DID NOT kill himself. Anyone who actually knew him would know that. He fell ill and unfortunately passed on. We are in mourning. Respect that.
— Nick Ndeda (@NickNdeda) January 1, 2018
4.Calestous Juma
Kenyan fallen varsity don from Harvard Kennedy College Calestous Juma was finally given a scholarly send off after he succumbed to death while he was in the USA.
His requiem mass was held at the Holy Basilica hall in Nairobi which was attended by scholars and Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta.
Before his demise, here is his record breaking achievements
- He was listed as one of the most influential 100 Africans in 2012, 2013 and 2014 by the New African magazine
- Was also Professor of the Practice of International Development and Faculty Chair of the Innovation for Economic Development Executive Program at Harvard Kennedy School
- Juma was Director of the School’s Science, Technology and Globalization Project at Harvard Kennedy School as well as the Agricultural Innovation in Africa Project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
It is believed that during his burial, there was a high concentration of varsity scholars and dons than any had witnessed in a single burial ceremony
It is believed that funeral arrangements and duties were allocated according to your academic level and perfection, with the list positions, a music DJ being given to a a diploma holder.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1945353348813948&set=a.620001431349153.1073741825.100000179046784&type=3&theater
5.Ken Wafula
Human activist Ken Wafula who was Executive Director at the Center of Human Rights and Democracy, died on Tuesday 16th January afternoon at St. Luke Hospital, Eldoret after suffering from a short illness.
The late Wafula was one of the key witnesses of Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Arap Sang at the ICC on their crimes against humanity during the PEV of 2007.
Even the their cases had been closed and found with no case to answer, lawyers opined that the case had just gone in a dominant stage and anyone could just rekindle it again.
In 2015, he changed his tone towards the case when Mp Moses Kuria accused of the prosecutors of having procured and caoched witnesses.
Everyone thought that I fixed Ruto and Sang. Now that Kuria had come out, the truth could finally be known,” said Mr. Wafula at the time.
Despite him having advocated for the termination of DP Ruto and and his fellow Arap Sang, he never ceased to be threatened by death messages from unknown people.
“I’m currently planning to petition the Assembly of State Parties over the same. At the same time, I am writing a letter to the United Nations Security Council, and also engaging the ICC internally through my own avenues,” Wafula told Daily Nation.
6.Titus Kangara
Son to Jubilee Party Vice Chairman in Kirinyaga County, James Muriithi Kangara, died on this Sunday morning after a saloon car lost control and hit the motorbike they were using at around 2.am in the morning.
Titus was in company of his cousin and a police officer on the motorbike from a local pub where they had been playing pool.
The son to the prominent Jubilee politician died immediately upon arriving at the hospital. Titus was barely 30 years old.
