Celebrated actress Nancy Sirengo passes on

The theatre fraternity in Kenya has received with great shock the sudden and tragic death of actress Nancy Naliaka Sirengo who passed on yesterday whilst undergoing a Cesarean Section at an Eldoret Hospital.

Nancy had gone to the hospital to deliver her first born and the doctors attending to her recommended a Caesarian Section but things went awry and the other never came out of it alive while the child was delivered and is well.

What a sad story for curtains to come down too early on a girl born during the planting season on April 24, 31 years ago at Misikhu Mission Hospital in Bungoma.

Family spokesman John Khaemba made the announcement yesterday, “When you think you are reaching your prime age you never know what’s in store for you before the lights go off.”

The youthful had moved to Eldoret as the Assistant Business Development Manager, North Rift for Unilever who just promoted her a week ago in the position.

But she is no more. Her infectious smile that disarmed the most of adversaries is gone – gone with the cold winds of Uasin Gishu.

We lost a hardworking daughter who had good ideas about of helping her siblings and contributing to the growth of society. She took to her father in the arts and was talented in acting winning the best Actress one time while acting with USIU,” mourned Nancy’s father Sirengo Khaemba who is the Executive Secretary Kenya National Schools, Colleges and Universities Drama Festival

Nancy is well known in the Schools and Colleges Drama festival as a talent since her school days at Arap Moi Girls’ Shibuye School and was part of the pioneers of the great drama movement at United States International University (USIU).

She won many national awards for her pedigree in acting and music on stage including in 2010 when she was declared the Best Actress overall in her excellent portrayal of Sanaipei in Cleophas Malalah’s play The Blood Vendetta in Kisumu.

In the play, Sanaipei is a young Maasai girl who had been molested by the British army based in the country. Her story is told and in reparation she is educated abroad in England, comes back to the village and becomes the symbol strength for Maasai girls and women by establishing education centres for the villagers.

And messages of condolences came flowing with glowing tribute to this tigress of the national drama stage.

“I have lost my dependable classmate. We were cofounders of the USIU michezo Africa Drama Club. Nancy rest in peace,’’ mourned the Kakamega Deputy Speaker Cleophas Malalah and celebrated playwright and director.

Immediate former Executive Secretary of the Kenya Music Festival (KMF) Benson Abwao condoled with family saying the music fraternity will miss her services.

“She was a young and vibrant lady who had started work with enthusiasm and commitment. I first met her as part of the Unilever sponsoring team for the KMF. She has died at a time she was needed most,” he said.

Kenyatta University don and playwright Dr Emannuel ShiKuku said, “It is hard to believe she is no more, Death is cruel! When you think it has harvested enough, it surprises you by picking the best in your midst.”

She is survived by her newborn son Barrack Sirengo, dad Patrick and mother Dorcas Sirengo.

Daily meetings are being held at his father’s home Sikhendu village from 5pm with a fundraising towards funerals expenses set for Wednesday June 2016 at the same venue.

“The cortege leaves Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Eldoret on Thursday June 9 at 11pm, followed by a brief service at her house at Pioneer Estate Eldoret,” announced Mr. Khaemba adding that funeral service will be held at Milima Primary School Grounds this Saturday at Sikhendu village.