Thousands expected in Kisumu to bid farewell to 'Makamu'
The then Gor Mahia captain Austin Oduor during a match at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.
What you need to know:
- The funeral steering committee chairman, Eliud Owalo said they are expecting 3,000 mourners to attend the burial.
- He said his committee had organised two buses to ferry Oduor’s former international colleagues from Nairobi to Western Kenya.
The Kenyan football fraternity is planning to see off legend Austin Oduor “Makamu” in style this weekend, with the funeral steering committee expecting over 3,000 mourners.
Thousands of fans from all corners of the country and abroad are expected in Kisumu and Kakamega to pay their final respect to the Gor Mahia and Kenya captain who died on October 15.
Gor Mahia’s self proclaim number one fan, Jared Otieno popularly known as “Jaro Soldier” said Thursday 1,200 registered club fans have confirmed they will attend the requiem mass service Friday in Kisumu and burial Saturday in Kakamega.
Otieno, who is the de facto Commander of the Green Army, advised the fans to wear K’Ogalo colours during the burial.
He said that fans will travel from as far as Mombasa, Nairobi, Nakuru and Eldoret to attend the funeral in Makunga village, Navakholo Sub-County in Kakamega County.
“Austin was the best sweeper Gor Mahia ever had, a gentleman of substance. We shall miss him a lot. Pole to the family as we mourn a great man,” said Jaro Soldier.
Mark Ogada is another known Gor Mahia diehard who said he would travel on Thursday (yesterday) night for the burial.
Bury him in style
“Austin was a successful captain and we must bury him in style. Let’s meet there to give him a heroic send off, a unique one in fact,” he said.
“Luo funerals are celebratory occasions that are incomplete without a big feast with plenty of song and dance,” he added.
Another diehard, DOD Kenyatta called Nation Sport to confirm that he was already in Kisumu for the big farewell.
“I attended the harambee in Nairobi, I will be at the church service and bury him on Saturday,” said Kenyatta adding that he expected all Gor Mahia fanatics to be in Western for the burial. “Luo funerals are celebratory occasions that are incomplete without a big feast with plenty of song and dance
The funeral steering committee chairman, Eliud Owalo said they are expecting 3,000 mourners to attend the burial.
He said his committee had organised two buses to ferry Oduor’s former international colleagues from Nairobi to Western Kenya.
Owalo, who is also the Deputy Chief of Staff in Charge of Performance and Delivery Management in the Executive Office of the President, said the body will leave Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu for a requiem mass service at St Theresa’s Cathedral Catholic Church in Kibuye that starts at 10am.
