The Memorial Service for the late Kenyan Diplomat Mr. James Ndilai Kiboi was held last Saturday and marked with picture slides on a projector celebrating the diplomat’s life, speeches and gospel music by artists from St Immanuel Church in Stockholm. After the multimedia presentation, the audience was addressed by Mrs Catherine Kiboi, his widow, Jeff Ole Ngais, Kiboi’s friend, Kiboi’s two children, Tanya and Josh and his sister Nelly who has been in Sweden to give support to the late Diplomat’s family.
However, the most important speaker was Her Excellency Ambassador Purity Muhindi who attended the function together with her husband Mr. Muhindi. It was the first time some Kenyans were listening to the reclusive Ambassador since she was appointed by President Kibaki to head the Mission in Stockholm. It was a rare appearance.
Clad in an immaculate and stylish Kitenge dress (complete with a head scurf), Ambassador Purity began her address by “Praising the Lord” as the audience responded loyally with “Aimen!” She said that the Embassy remembered Kiboi as “A diplomat of diplomats”, a gifted person who was able to establish rapport with both his juniors and his bosses.
“Whenever he served as a diplomat, he was highly approachable”, Purity told the attentive crowd of about 100 people comprising of Wakenya and friends. Reading slowly but carefully from a prepared speech, the Ambassador said that the late Kiboi was outstanding during his service both in Ethiopia and Scandinavia and that he found his way around easily.
She reminded the audience about Kiboi’s role during the Somali reconciliation process in Nairobi where Mr. Kiboi represented both the Kenyan government and IGARD. She said that when she attended the Somali Conference on Peace and Rehabilitation recently, people flocked to her to express fond memories they had of Mr. Kiboi.
“He served with distinction in many departments in the Ministry of Foreign Affaires”, she said, adding that she was looking forward to working with James when she was posted in Stockholm but that God had his own plans.
Turning to Kiboi’s conviction in life, Ambassador Purity said that James believed that “The best way to find fulfillment in life was to put your God given talents to the service of those around you”.
“James improved the lives of men, women and children in his home area who looked at him as a future leader in his community”, she said. She was happy that Kiboi’s widow, Catherine, had joined them at the Mission and hoped that her children will continue to be a joyful part of the Kenyan community in Stockholm. Catherine is currently employed at the Embassy as an “Attaché”.
She said that the Embassy continued to remember James as a happy and sociable officer. “His sense of humor continues to inspire joy in us. We rest in a secure knowledge that God will continue to provide his love and grace to Catherine and the family”, she concluded.
“LIFE BECAME TATSLESS” AFTER KIBOI’S DEATH
On her part, Catherine said that she has had to undergo a very difficult time following the death of her husband. She said that when she returned with her children after the burial, Sweden felt like “the land of the unknown”.
Wrapped in Massai traditional dress, Catherine narrated how tears came down her cheeks when she noticed that she was alone with the children as she wondered whether she would be able to cope with the situation.
In a message that was packed with religious anecdotes, she said: “God had tempted me beyond what I could bare”. She said that she never expected the death of Kiboi while at the same time she had no choice after his death but to try and cope with the situation. She said that God is the husband of all widows. “He is my light and my salvation. Who can I fear?”, she posed.
She said that after the demise of her husband, life became tasteless and thanked everybody who had been praying for the family. She said that God was her refuge and fortress and that during the dark moment, God assured her of his presence.
“He has been there every step of the way”. she said. “I thank him from the bottom of my heart for bringing us this far”, she added. She told the audience that she was also grateful for the presence of Kiboi’s sister and her support. “God can turn around any situation”, she said.
Observing that the love of god is unconditional, she reminded her listeners that God was dependable and reliable. She appealed to the audience to carry the message of reconciliation and love, stressing that if her husband were alive today, she was sure that he would wish for unity among people. “We can become our brother’s keepers with Gods help. I just want to thank you all for coming to celebrate with us”, she said.
Kiboi’s sister, Nelly said that although her brother was physically gone, his love and wisdom continued to guide the family. She thanked God for the gift of life and the beautiful memories.
“We still care and love you. You will always be with us. It has been tough for Catherine ever since but God has been guiding her” she said as she finished her address.
Jeff Ole Ngais, a close friend of the late Kiboi, was also given the opportunity to address the audience. He said that people should be happy that they are alive and reminded the crowd that the gathering was not called for people to mourn.
“We have lost a lot of people. We have cried a lot but we cannot cry all our lives”, he said. “James was one of my closest friends. We did things together. I miss him so much but we have to go on”, he said.
Jeff, who is also the Chairperson of Chama Cha mwananchi, told the gathering that despite death, life must go on. He said that although it was good to reflect on the life of James, it was also important for people to do things by themselves. Jeff believes that what James wanted to say in life is that “We should unite”, adding that with faith, we can achieve things.
The audience was also addressed by Kiboi’s daughter and son. The son said that he had missed his father during his last birthday and that he had grown taller since his father departed.
YOU ARE EITHER WITH GOD OR THE DEVIL
The function was interspersed with bouts of intensive prayers for Kiboi’s family, parabolic sermons and songs of praise. At some stage, the sermons were so intensive that the audience found itself totally absorbed in deep emotion.
While President George Bush said that “You are either with us or the terrorists”, tension grew among non believers in the audience as the Preacher shouted at the top of his voice through the microphone “You are either with God or the Devil”.
The situation was made even more difficult by experienced members of the audience who responded to the challenge by shouting a sharp “YESSS!” as if agreeing with the Preacher. Non Kenyan believers known to frequent Vasa, the popular drinking hole, could be sported looking worried as if Jesus had entered the hall without notice.
After the “Fellowship” Pastor Tila invited the audience for a “Swallowship” (coffe) but not before sadaka was collected. He told the audience to hold their sadaka tightly into their hands and pray for something they have always wanted on grounds that God made man in his own image and likeness. He said that everybody is God and could therefore decree anything and that it will happen because God said “Let there be light and there was light”. A Kenyan who was seated next to me said that he had “ordered a Hummer” (like Raila’s) and hoped that the prayer would soon be answered.
Okoth Osewe
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