Bruce Odhiambo was a trailblazer in the creative arts, says First Lady

Laborian Odhiambo,the son of the late Bruce Dominic Odhiambo Were,Kenya's legend music producer,leads poll bearers after the funeral service at the Nairobi Baptist Church. He is also former Youth Fund chairman.The Body will laid to rest at his Koru home in Kisumu county over the weekend. [Photo: PSCU}

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta today paid tribute to the late Bruce Odhiambo describing him as a person who mentored youth in the creative arts industry.

The First Lady was speaking yesterday afternoon at the Nairobi Baptist Church during the funeral service for the late Mr Odhiambo who passed away early this month.

Mrs Kenyatta said Odhiambo, a celebrated musician and former chairman of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, always championed the interests of the youth, training and guiding them to achieve the best with their talents.

“Bruce dedicated his life to our national ideals and values,” said the First Lady.

“He respected the dignity of humanity and stood up for what was right. He was an advocate for the youth, and a trailblazer in the music industry.”

She pointed out that Odhiambo was instrumental in the set-up and success of her Beyond Zero Initiative.

Prayed for fortitude

She said Odhiambo was thorough in ensuring ideas for the initiative were followed to the end.

“No words can adequately describe his role in building the Beyond Zero Initiative to its current status,” said the First Lady.

Mrs Kenyatta prayed for the family to have fortitude and strength even as Odhiambo departs from them.

Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja said Odhiambo revolutionised the creative arts industry. Mr Sakaja added that he will formulate a bill to ensure 60 per cent of local music content is played on media outlets.

“The greatest tribute to Bruce Odhiambo is to seriously consider the creative economy as a frontier for jobs and economic development in the country” said Sakaja.

“We must bring back the proposal we had in 2013 that 60 percent of all music played in our radio stations be local.”

The sermon was delivered by Pastor Calisto Odede of Nairobi Baptist Church.