After last year’s New year messages were delivered across Kenya-Stockholm, individuals recovered from Party hangovers and new resolutions began to be converted into reality by their creators, new developments also began to unfold.
During the first week of January, some Kenya-Stockholmers reported that the Kenyan flag at the Kenyan Embassy in Stockholm had become a constant source of shame because the flag was too weather-beaten. Without mincing words, the Kenya Red Alliance (KRA) seized on the opportunity to throw salvos in the direction of the Kenyan Ambassador to Scandinavia, H.E. Mrs Purity Muhindi, who was accused of being insensitive to a “respected component of the Kenyan nationhood”.
In an open letter to the Ambassador, KRA wrote: “The situation is worsened by the fact that you and other members of staff sit in that office on a daily basis after passing under the same flag to gain access to the Embassy where you represent the interest of Kenya in Scandinavia. Under its current state and condition, and given the national symbolism attached to the flag, KRA demands that your office take action and rectify the situation as soon as possible”.
When the issue became “too hot” for Purity, she quietly gave in and set up a new flag. It was clear evidence that she had given in to pressure and KRA also took a break to celebrate.
January was also marked by death-related news that struck members of the Kenya-Stockholm community. Man Keegan, a humble son of Kenya, lost his Sister in Law back home prompting Kenyans to show solidarity. It can be said that it was the first bereavement of the year.
As news about the Keegan bereavement sunk deeper in Kenya-Stockholm, the family of the late Mr. Owili Ongaro also returned from Kenya where they had gone to attend the burial of their loved one. Mr. Owili passed away in December 2008. Upon their arrival back in Stockholm, they thanked everybody who helped raise Ksh 450.000 to transport the body of the late Owili to Kenya for burial. The bereavement was marked by controversy between the Owili family on the one hand and Hassan, Owili brother, on the other.
The controversy “was attention capturing” because almost everything that touched on funeral arrangements became open to disagreement. The most interesting development was the alleged failure of Hassan to benefit from funds that was raised at the Owili funeral. According to reports, Hassan was supposed to get a cut of the money for his air ticket but when he left the harambee empty handed because of disagreements, a group of Kenyans quickly congregated at Continental Hotel and raised Ksh 8000 for Hassan, enabling him to travel home to attend his brother’s funeral. It was one of the most talked about cases after the case of the late James Wuod Maggero whose body was cremated in January 2007 in Stockholm amid protests by Kenyans (especially members of the Luo community) whose attempts to stop the cremation failed.
The Hassan drama was followed immediately by a new tragedy which struck the family of John “Holiday” Okulo. The Kenyan, who is one of the few “veterans” remaining in Stockholm, lost his sister, Nevea Oulu Nyambok due to illness. When Nivea’s daughter, Grace Olewe, received the news, she collapsed and died as the family entered into deep mourning. An appeal was sent to Kenyans for fund raising.
Entry of Lady Kipepeo in Kenya Stockholm
Just as Wakenya were recovering from multiple bereavements, a new and intriguing piece of news hit the scene. David Karoki, a Kenya-Stockholmer, called KSB to assert that he was “alive” despite propaganda that was being spread by his enemies that he had passed away long time and probably buried somewhere. A story published at KSB said in part:
“Mr. David Karoki, a Kenyan national who has been resident in Stockholm, has told KSB that he is not dead as is being alleged by people he believes are against him. Speaking to KSB on telephone, Mr. Karoki said that he was surprised to learn that rumours are spreading in Kenya-Stockholm that he died long time ago and that his remains were sent six feet under”.
According to Kenya-Stockholm’s rumour mills, Mr. Karoki had apparently passed away during the December 2007 Post Election Violence (PEV) and that his soul was actually resting in peace six feet under somewhere in Central province. Karoki is a well-known Kenya-Stockholmer and the news shocked observers who wondered how such a serious tragedy could have struck a community member without concrete news filtering across the thriving Kenya-Stockholm’s underground news channels. It was therefore a big relief when Mr. Karoki surfaced to dispel the rumours.
Apart from the “Karoki was dead” storos, other Kenyans had a different explanation as to why Mr. Karoki had gone out of circulation. According to Karoki, other miscreants were peddling lies that the Kenyan had been sent to prison for offences which were never named. Countering the lies, Karoki said that he had actually been globe-trotting, having travelled to Denmark then to London before settling in Canada from where he returned and called KSB. The rumours about Karoki were further evidence that in Kenya-Stockholm, you never know where rumours originate while some rumours can be shocking to say the least.
As the month of January approached mid-ground, a new sensation hit Kenya-Stockholm. Lady Kipepeo, a “mouth-watering” Kenyan cutie, had landed at Arlanda from the motherland, literally setting Kenya-Stockholm’s bachaleros on a “mhanyo mode”. The impact of Kipep’s arrival was “a race against time” by the bachaleros who embarked on a wild trial of all tricks in the book to try and win her heart. Unfortunately, Kipeps was no neophyte in the department of seduction and as her scanty dressing style increased romantic temperatures and multiplied the rate of blood circulation in men’s dangling equipments, observers could only wait with anticipation to know the winner. Eventually, Kipepeo was scooped by a stylish dude who took her home in a BMW as she began to weigh her options in her new crib, a development that ended the competition.
Still on the trail of bereavements, Cucu Damaris passed away, precipitating yet another funds drive to transport her body back to Kenya. Cucu’s body left for Kenya on the 18th of January following a successful harambee that was organized by the Thugge family.
As January came to a close, Pastor Karanja (who is based in the United States), arrived in Stockholm to preach the Gospel. His moving sermons led to a couple of Kenyans accepting Jesus Christ as their personal savior and the baptism of over 25 children. Another key event that occurred as January came to an end was news that Jane Nyakairo, a Kenya-Stockholmer, had lost her Sister in Law back home. A funds drive was held for Nyakairo who had travelled home ahead of the harambee to attend the funeral.
On the whole, January was marked by bereavements among Kenya Stockholmers although the entry of Kipepeo and intriguing news about Karoki’s alleged death provided some exciting detours.
Okoth Osewe
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