Standard reporter Pilipili laid to rest in Khayega, Kakamega County

Journalists carry the casket bearing the body of the late Oscar Pilipili to the graveside at Museno Village in Kakamega County on Saturday. [PHOTO:CHRISPEN SECHERE]

Standard Group Sports reporter Oscar Pilipili was laid to rest at his Museno home in Khayega, Kakamega County on Saturday.

Area MP Lisamula Anami, Standard Group Associate Editor (Sports) Isaack Omulo Okoth, Game Yetu Associate Editor Robin Toskin, Sports Journalist Association of Kenya Chairman Chris Mbaisi were among other mourners.

Eulogising Pilipili, The Standard Group, in a condolence message read by Omulo stated: “It is with profound grief that we gather here for the funeral of Oscar Pilipili. I stand before you today on behalf of the management and the Standard Group family. We are a family in mourning. We have been grieving since Tuesday September 9 and remain united as we pay our last respects to Oscar. Death has robbed us of an employee, colleague and friend.”

“We also cannot forget the commitment and dedication with which Oscar did his work. He was with Standard Group from 1998, a total of 16 years. His passion for sports reporting and contribution to sports journalism will remain long after we have dispersed,” read part of the statement. 

On his personal capacity Omulo said Oscar was a friend and a colleague that he always trusted with assignments.

Toskin said: “I met Oscar at the (Standard Group) gate and told him that I was looking for a job, he picked my flash disk and promised to give the story to the Sports Editor who was not in at that moment, after a few days my story was published. It is the same story that I used in my interview at The Standard, had he thrown that disk in the dustbin I would not be standing here.” 

Mbaisi paid tribute to Oscar saying “Whenever I wanted to get any information regarding volleyball in the country Oscar was my first option, he was a journalist who was always ready to help no matter what time.”

The area MP termed Oscar as a polite young man who was always available and helped everyone who approached him for assistance.

The Kisumu Bureau Chief Frank Otieno said that Oscar was a polite humble guy who picked no quarrel with anyone.

Oscar’ widow Janet Shichei said “Oscar came back from Dar es Salaam feeling unwell, we took him to the Jamaa Hospital where he took his final breath. He was a hardworking husband, he loved his job and would always be working on something on his computer.”

Others who eulogised Pilipili  included Vincent Ateya of Milele FM, Titus Munala (The Standard) and Robert Mukhwana (Western Kenya Secondary School Sports Association Secretary).