Raila Odinga expected at former MP Zablon Owigo's burial

Former MP Owigo Olang's portrait placed at his home. [Anne Atieno, Standard]

ODM leader Raila Odinga is expected to attend the burial of former Ndhiwa MP Zablon Owigo in Nyatike, Migori County tomorrow.

Odinga's spokesman Dennis Onyango and Nyatike MP Tom Odege confirmed the former Prime Minister is to attend the ceremony at Raguda village.

“On behalf of the people of Nyatike, I welcome the ODM Party Leader to the constituency and thank him for the decision to help give our former MP a dignified send-off,” Odege said.

The MP asked the residents and guests who will be attending the burial "to show up in peace to welcome the former PM and get his guidance on critical national issues."

The late Owigo who was fondly known as ‘Gogni’ died aged 81, on January 10 at his home after a long illness.

His brother Ezekiel Olang’ said Owigo’s body will be removed from St. Camillus mortuary on Friday and taken to the former MP's home where prayers will be held.

“The body will later be taken to his house for an overnight stay and a vigil held at the home. He will be laid to rest on Saturday at around 2:30 pm,” Olang said.

Owigo served a term as the Assistant Minister for Constitutional and Justice Affairs between 1979 and 1983.

The MP rose through ranks from a humble police officer before plunging into politics and was elected as a member of  Parliament for Ndhiwa Constituency.

He joined Parliament through a by-election in 1977 after then MP Odero Jowi ditched his parliamentary seat to join United Nations (UN).

He represented Ndhiwa when Kadem in Homa Bay County was part of Ndhiwa before it was split in 1988 to create Nyatike and Ndhiwa constituencies.

Former Ndhiwa MP Zablon Owigo Olang will be buried tomorrow. He died on January 10, 2020. [Caleb Kingwara, Standard]

Owigo rose to be a powerful MP and assistant minister in the Kanu regime under President Daniel Moi in 1979 and served until 1983.

In 2003, Kenya’s third President Mwai Kibaki appointed him as the Board Chairman of the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA).

Owigo left politics when he tried to vie for the Kachieng MCA seat and lost in the 2017 General Elections.