Joyce Laboso's husband Edwin Abonyo recalls her struggle with cancer

The funeral service for Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso at All Saints Cathedral.

The husband of the late Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso has recalled the difficult moments the family went through after she was diagnosed with cancer.

During a funeral service for her at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi, Edwin Abonyo narrated how he met Joyce while he worked as a manager in a Kericho tea plantation, and how she was first diagonised with cancer in 1991.

“Joyce was wonderful, I find it hard to address her in the past…she first had cancer in 1991 when we only had Brian and Ted. We were still young and we were devastated by the news…She was treated in Nairobi Hospital and she healed from her first cancer,” he said.

He recalled how the governor put on a brave face and hid all her pain and suffering and how only her close family and friends knew of the cancer.

“She didn’t like drama, not so many knew about it…she was sick but covered it all. Joyce was committed to her work. She was a busy woman, always on her phone making calls,” he added.

“I want to thank President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto. They are great people; they would call me. They were all concerned about Joyce. They gave me immense support,” he said.

Her children echoed their mum’s unconditional love and how she fought cancer bravely in her last days.

Brian said: “Thank you for being exemplary, teaching us virtues of humility and patience. You fought illness bravely, but now you need to rest, you were an angel on this earth. You left a legacy. We thank God for the years we spent with you.”

“Watching the condition you were in past months it broke my heart, thank you for the unconditional love that you showed us,” Ted said.

They all thanked Joyce, their mother for the values she instilled in them.

Laboso's eldest son, Brian Abonyo, read her eulogy which highlighted her achievements and her great aspiration for the people of Bomet. The governor battled cancer for 28 years.

According to friends, she was a caring person and a leader whose focus was mainly on healthcare, food and security for his people.

Laboso's former teacher at Kenya High School Ida Odinga said: “She was intelligent…Her name is still on the notice board of KHS dining hall… she had a brilliant mind, she stayed focused, determined and was a woman of the people.”

“Cancer should be addressed, it is a deadly disease… Joyce was headed for great things but I think God always takes the best and thank you Edwin for being with Joyce till the last minute, it is a lesson we all have learnt from you,” a friend of Abonyo's said.

The service was presided over by Bishop Ernest Ng'eno assisted by Canon Sammy Wainaina and attended by Deputy President William Ruto.

Leaders present included, governors Mike Sonko, Charity Ngilu and Anne Waiguru. Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and several other cabinet secretaries were also in attendance.

The cortege left the Lee Funeral Home for the first funeral service at the All Saints Cathedral.

Female MPs, Senators and governors in mourning black and purple scarfs termed Joyce’s death as a great loss to Kenya. Her husband Edwin Abonyo was dressed in a navy blue suit with a purple ribbon.

Laboso’s body will later be flown from Wilson Airport to Sotik in Bomet County.

Governor Laboso died of cancer on Monday at Nairobi Hospital.

Laboso had been in hospitals in London and India since May 29. She was admitted in the Royal Madden NHS Hospital for over a month and later flown to India for another two weeks for further treatment.

Before she was elected as Bomet Governor, Laboso served as the Sotik MP, having been elected following the death of her sister Lorna Laboso in a plane crash on June 10, 2008.

She also served as the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly in the 11th Parliament.