Kenya Stockholm Blog

L-R: Late Onyango Sumba, Adiwa Senior and the late Mr. Opwapo

On Saturday October 17th, a group of Kenyans met at Continental Hotel in Stockholm to plan how the Kenyan community in Stockholm could pay homage to the late Mr. Onyango Sumba who passed away in Kenya. Mr. Sumba will be buried on Saturday October 31st. At the meeting, it was decided that a Memorial service will be held for the late Mr. Sumba while a funds drive will also be held in the church at the same time so that Kenyans in Stockholm could make their contribution to funeral arrangements in Kenya. Mr. Sumba has left a huge hospital bill at Kenyatta National hospital which needs to be sorted out.

Those who attended the Continental meeting were Mzee Oyuga Odada, Mr. Joseph Munene, Dr. Jared Odero, Mr. Bryan Arwa, Engineer Okulo Masala, Mr. Okoth Osewe, Brother Paul, Mr. Opee Junior, Mr. Daniel Mwaura, Mr. Jasper Orieny and Mr. Antony Adiwa. Kenyans who could not attend because of serious engagements sent apologies.

At the Continental meeting, which was chaired by Mzee Oyuga Odada, it was agreed that information about the memorial will be released to the public as soon as arrangements were complete. A Committee headed by Mr. Martin Ngatia was appointed to arrange the Memorial and inform Kenyans accordingly. Mr. Okoth Osewe was appointed the Secretary while Mrs Hellen Opwapo was appointed the Treasurer.

For the last four days, the Committee has been working tirelessly to arrange the Memorial and time has been very scarce. Despite working under difficult conditions, arrangements are now complete.

The Onyango Sumba Memorial Committee therefore announces that the Sumba memorial will be held on Saturday October 24th at Christ Disciples Fellowship Centre at Medborgplaten – address – Folkungagatan 90 (Tube station, Medborgaplatsen) – from 13.00 hrs sharp. The service will be conducted by Pastor Ken assisted by Pastor Nicholas. Those wishing to attend the memorial are requested to be on time because of tight Church schedule.

During the service, a funds drive will be conducted and all proceeds will go towards offsetting the Onyango Sumba Funeral and hospital expenses. The money will be handed over to the family in Sweden. Mr. Sumba’s two sons and other family members will travel to Kenya next week to attend the funeral to deliver messages and contributions from Stockholm. A condolence book will be opened at the Church where mourners will be able to register their names and send condolences to the family.

Brief speeches will be delivered at the Church by those who knew Mr. Sumba. Mr. Jack Mulo, a close friend of Mr. Sumba, will deliver the eulogy, Mr. Martin Ngatia, who has known Mr. Sumba for almost 30 years, will speak about Mr. Sumba’s political life. Mr. Ngatia was in exile with Mr. Sumba in Tanzania before the two moved to Sweden. Mrs Hellen Opwapo will speak on behalf of the bereaved family while Dr. Otieno Wariaro will speak as a friend of Mr. Sumba.

Kenyans, friends and well-wishers are requested to turn up at the memorial which has had to be held at short notice because of unavoidable circumstances. Since the burial is on 31st October, the memorial could not be pushed any further.

Kenyans in Stockholm will be represented at the funeral in Kenya by Ms Rose Adero, a Kenya-Stockholmer who has already travelled to Kenya. The decision that Ms Adero represent Kenya-Stockholmers was taken at the Continental meeting. Rose will be accompanied by Dr. Wycliffe Odiwuor, a former Kenya Stockholmer currently lecturing at Maseno University in Kisumu city and Mr. Thomas Opande, also a former Kenya Stockholmer and now an Environmental consultant in Kenya. Reports reaching KSB indicate that the three have already linked up with the Sumba family in Kenya which is busy with funeral arrangements. Further information can be obtained by contacting Mrs Hellen Opwapo on: 0706575772 or Okoth Osewe, the President of KSB.

Okoth Osewe