By Agwanda Saye

The late Journalist George Michael Olwenya who breathed his last breath on the morning of 12th April 2012 after complaining of severe chest pains was finally laid to rest in his father’s home at Kasdeg Village West Ugenya Location within Ugenya Districtt.

I vowed that I must attend the burial because the late was not only a friend to me but was someone who never carried any form of jealousy on him,never mean and was too sincere, perhaps that is why he died “a poor man” as we witnessed in his father’s home in regard to the two houses which were hurriedly constructed for his two wives.

I saw the late George Olwenya for the first in the late eighties while I was schooling at Maseno Mixed Primary School within Maseno while he was a footballer with the then Siaya Maroon Football where he was playing as winger, by then he was very young man, he was so so so short but was so speedy with the ball that anytime he had it, the opposite defenders never quiet knew what he was going to do with the ball and the entire crowd would roar with support urging him to go on and on.

I think by then Siaya Maroon FC was playing their Provincial League Matches and those days the said matches would always be played either at the then Siriba Teachers Training College or Government Training Institute which all have been converted to form the current Maseno University College.

I later met Olwenya in Siaya when I started practicing journalism, whenever I had any issue I would consult him and advice me accordingly, for the duration I worked and knew him as a journalist there is no any single day he “misled” me on any issue and any information I wanted from him if he was never sure he would be frank enough and tell me that he was not issue or simply he didn’t know.

Sometimes back I had some “professional differences” with the current Gem MP Washington Jakoyo Midiwo which ended at the hands of the police, OLwenya out of his wisdom called me and told him to forget all that which was between me and Jakoyo and find a way how we could co-exist adding that I had done “enough” to Jakoyo, I heeded his advice and through Kisumu Veteran Journalist Leo Odero Omollo we made peace with Jakoyo and to date we do not have any difference with him.

Olwenya was never a character to put any of his colleagues in problems and he would advice you and it was upon you to heed the advice or not, for that I really respected him.

Despite our age differences whenever we would relate you would think that we were age mates not only to me but to also his other colleagues.

Olwenya made many achieve their ambitions and I was really surprised that the number he helped elevate to their current states never bothered to attend his burial.

When I saw him for the last time while lying in the coffin, I concluded that truly God is the give and taker of life.

For those who never knew the late Olwenya, he was born on 9th May 1966 to Mama Leonida Awuor and Leonard Otieno Olwenya and he was a step son to Mama Anastasia Abuyu.

He started his primary schooling at St.Paul Mbotela Primary School in 1974 and which he proceeded to St.Teresa’s Secondary School Eastleigh also in Nairobi between 1981 and 1984.

Olwenya was a prolific footballer for several clubs in Nairobi such as Immigration, Coca Cola and Mbotela Kamaliza FC among others before luck smiled on his way and was among several youths who were signed by Siaya Maroon FC then a formidable football club in Nyanza in November 1987.

It marked his relocation to Siaya where he was later to be employed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in March 1988 while still a valuable winger for the club.

He served the Ministry until 1994 when he voluntarily left the government service and joined “The Standard” newspaper as a correspondent .

He married the late Millicent Apiyo whom they were blessed with a son Godwin Careca Olwenya, however Millicent died in 1998 and he later married Judith and Zainabu.

Olwenya had an accident towards the end of 2010, he suffered injuries on his back ,head and he fractured his hand, he was treated at Siaya District Hospital where he recovered and resumed duties.

Surprisingly mid last year, his hand started swelling, he later sought treatment at Siaya District Hospital where he was advised to seek specialized diagnosis in Nairobi which prompted him to go to Kenyatta National Hospital where doctors advised a biopsy test which was done and he was later confirmed to be having a skin cancer.

On advice from the doctors, he was put on Chemotherapy at Siaya District Hospital’s hospice and was scheduled to go for the second session on 18th April 2012.

He started complaining of severe chest pains, he was rushed Siaya District hospital in the morning of 12th April 2012 where unfortunately he succumbed inside X-ray room where he had been referred to by Doctors.

He leaves behind two widows Zainabu and Judith and children; Godwin Careca Olwenya Form Four Student at Ambira High School ,Kennedy Olwenya,Christine Olwenya and Janet Olwenya.

And while many wanted God to rest his soul in eternal peace, may said”Rest in Peace Ja Kasdeg”

May God rest his soul in eternal peace