Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho Town.

DEATH has occurred of one of the last surviving veteran of the First World War who is estimated to have died at the age of 133.

Mzee Barnabas Kiptanui Arap Rop saw actions in Tanzania, Madagascar and some Islands in the Indian Ocean during the First World War between 1914 and 1918.

He got married in 1918 after being discharged from the Kings African Rifles {KAR} and his eldest child is now aged 90 years.

The grand old man was buried last weekend at Kapcheluch village near Kabianga University College a {local campus of the Mo University Eldoret} and Kabianga Trading Center in upper Belgut within Kericho County.

According to Mzee Arap Rop’s own account, he was born around 1879 and was converted to Christianity around 1910. He was conscripted into the Fist World War not as a young man, but an adult who at the time he was almost approaching his middle age.

Among the leading personalities who turned up to bid him a tearful farewell was the Belgut MP Charles Keter, an aspirant for the newly created Sigowet / Soin constituency Justice Kemei who is a prominent businessman in both Mombasa, Nairobi and Western Kenya.

His burial attracted unusual large crowd of well wishers, friends and relatives. The late Arap was a cousin and age-mate of Mr Kemei grand father the late Cherengeti Arap Cheruiyot who died three decades ago.

Speaker after speaker spoke about the grand old man wish counseling and wisdom. They added that he was the custodian of the Kipsigis culture and used to advice the younger generation on how to live in peace with one another and also preached the word of gospel which he had mastered without acquiring modern education.

Ends

photo of the grand old man who is beieved to have been the oldest man in Kisigisland if not in Kenya