Trade unions to accord Okuta national burial

By Brigid Chemweno

KENYA: The National Steering committee of the Federation of Public Servants Trade Unions of Kenya (PUSETU) has announced that the late Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General, David Okuta Osiany will be given a send-off as a national leader who fought for the rights of public servants in the country.

Addressing the members of the fourth estate in the deceased home in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County, PUSETU acting Secretary General, Dr Charles Mukhwaya said plans for his burial are underway and they have put up a committee who will polish everything during the entire period.

“Mr Okuta’s burial will be a national burial which will involve everybody in the public since he was the voice of teachers and public servants and he fought for their rights,” said Mukhwaya.

Mukhwaya who passed his condolences to Okuta’s family termed him as a hero who championed for public workers in the country adding that his death is a great loss to the KNUT fraternity and the entire Public Service Community.

“Teachers in the country worked under his stewardship and his passing on is a great loss to the teachers and the Public Service Community,” added Mukhwaya.

He said they will continue with his ideals and emulate his tactics by following his footsteps to ensure that public servants get a better pay.

“As our newly elected leaders claim for salary increment, we are keenly watching and we will release a statement on the same,” he said.

KNUT Acting Secretary General Xavier Nyamu, called upon teachers in the country to pray for the family during these times of turbulence has they come in terms with his death.

He said the Late Okuta, died while fighting for the rights of common person and assured teachers that he will fulfil his wishes by ensuring that public servants are well remunerated.

Nyamu said Okuta will be buried at his Ahero home in Nyando on Saturday, April 20 and termed it as an important day since he will be given a national burial.

The Family’s Spokesman, Edwin Okuta, who is the eldest son, in a family of eight children thanked the unions for their support and encouragement during the mourning period and said his father will be given a descend burial , terming him as a person who had a passion in education.

Other unions who accompanied the PUSETU to the late Okuta’s home include, KNUT, University Academic Staff Union (UASU), Universities Non-Teaching Staff Union (Untesu), and Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS).

Okuta passed on, on Tuesday night while he was being taken to Nairobi Women Hospital, Ongata Rongai, for First Aid after developing breathing problems.