Business-savvy man who 'breathed life' into sleepy, bushy Osere town

Osere City signage in Malaba, Busia county. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

This, according to Osere, is what attracted investors who built more shops that have today transformed the place into a busy trading centre.

He says most of his clients were Ugandans, who used to cross into Kenya to sell maize, sorghum and finger millet, since it was more convenient than going all the way to Malaba, Uganda.

Uganda lies barely one kilometer behind Osere city.

"Ugandan traders preferred the higher value of the Kenya shilling compared to their weaker shilling. In exchange, the Ugandans would buy paraffin, petrol, wheat flour, cooking fat and sugar that were in short supply in Uganda at the time. They also used to frequent Kenya to buy mitumba clothes because they were not only cheap, but also, Uganda had banned mitumba imports," John Onyango Omoit, 84-year-old, said.

Osere reveals that the town also became famous due to the advent of FM radio stations that allowed listeners to send greetings to their friends and relatives, who would sign off as 'so and so' from Osere.

"The advent of FM radio stations allowed listeners to send greetings to friends and relatives and led to the formation of a fan club. The fans used to meet at my shop, where they bought cards and sent them to Emuria FM. Slowly, the town gained fame," he said.

In 2015, Osere started a rumour that the then US President Barack Obama, who was set to visit Kenya, was also going to pay homage to Osere city.

The rumour stuck and visitors started streaming into the area.

Osere City in Malaba, Busia county. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

"Osere started the rumour that Obama was scheduled to visit Osere city before being hosted by President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi. It sounded so convincing that locals, most of them with roots and connections in Luo Nyanza, believed it and made elaborate preparations to receive Obama in their 'city'," said James Otwane.

Locals appreciate the good work that Osere has done to make the town a household name. "Osere constructed the mud shop, over there, that gave birth to this city of ours. I am a member of the family that sold him the piece of land on which he built his shop, and I have watched this place grow," 98-year-old Gamaliel Etetie said.

Douglas Okwii, a resident, heaped praises on Osere, describing him as a kind man with a big heart.

"Were it not for his lack of formal education, residents had at some point unanimously resolved to vote him in as their Member of County Assembly," Okwii said.