Uhuru to attend Okuta’s funeral Friday

By Mangoa Mosota  and Evelyn Kwamboka

President Uhuru Kenyatta will today lead a delegation of Jubilee alliance leaders to the funeral of former teachers’ union boss David Okuta in Nyanza. This will be the first time the President will be there after the March 4 polls that saw majority of voters in the area cast their ballot in favour of CORD leader Raila Odinga.

Yesterday, Kisumu County Commissioner Lornah Odero urged residents to welcome the President.

“I urge people to come out in large numbers to welcome the President. Even if he will be attending a funeral, he is coming to visit the county,” said Ms Odero.

Raila and other senior Government officials are scheduled to attend the burial of the former Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary General.

Multitude of mourner

Odero said over 5,000 mourners are expected at the funeral to be held at Onjiko Boys High School, about 2km from Okuta’s home in Tura Village. Okuta’s body was yesterday received by mourners at Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground, Kisumu.

Knut officials clad in black T-shirts carried the casket. It was then viewed for over an hour.

The body was flown to the lakeside town at 10.45am, with a convoy of close to 50 vehicles escorting it from Kisumu International Airport to the town, about five kilometres away.

A service was held at Ahero Church, where several leaders extolled the late unionist. Knut national chairman Wilson Sossion said Okuta made a mark  as a unionist.

“He set high standards in his work that we will emulate. He fought for teachers’ rights,” said Mr Sossion.

Yesterday evening, final preparation was being held at Onjiko, with tents being set up for the ceremony.