Meshack Owira Ogalo, publisher and ex-banker, dies at 61

We, the family, are saddened to announce the death, on 17th December 2019, of our father Meshack Owira Ogalo.

He was born on 24th December 1958 ; begotten of his mother Dorina Ndolo Ogalo and his father Stefan Ogalo of Nyakach, Kabodho, Kusa.

He was the last born in a family of 7 namely; Glady Adey (late), Elekiah Ondoro (late), Jotham Obonyo (late), Jorim Kadori, Peres Auma and Eunita Adhiambo.

Our father lost his parents at a young age and was therefore raised by his brother Jotham Obonyo and went to school in Nairobi; where he completed his high school education.

Thereafter, by the help of his brother Obonyo, he secured a job at Barclays Bank – Mombasa.

In 1984, he met and got married to, our mother, Jedidah Adhiambo Oyugi; daughter of Anastacia and Simeon Oyugi of Karachuonyo. God blessed them with 6 children: Teddy Otieno Owira, Edwin Omondi Owira, Lynette Dorina Aluoch Owira, Arthur Otieno Owira, Albert Owira and Evans Owira.

He worked as a banker until 1996 when, unfortunately, he lost his job with Barclays Bank. He immediately ventured into business and became a publisher and supplier of stationery and exam papers which he diligently did throughout Nyanza until early this year when his health deteriorated and he could no longer move about as much as he needed to.

Meshack was a brilliant man and many admired his English. Life humbled him as it humbles us all and he always got up whenever the chips were down. Our father was a man of courage who taught us never to give up. We saw his true spirit whenever he faced challenges in his publishing business.

He was diagnosed with diabetes years ago, but he was never the man to lament. He was a stoic man and struggled in the belief he would overcome. Which he managed to do most of his life.

However, in June of 2019, his eyesight begun to fail because of diabetes. He underwent eye surgery at Sabatia Eye hospital, but his sight never quite recovered.

He would soon lose his eyesight. Around the same time, he started to become ill but the sickness was attributed to his diabetic condition when he was admitted at Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu, in August.

In October, the doctors conducted further tests because he was not responding to treatments, he was once again admitted at Aga Khan, Kisumu. This time, he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma- Bone marrow cancer.

We were then referred to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret Chandaria Ward (a specialist); from where he received his first chemotherapy treatment on 16th December 2019; but unfortunately, on the morning of the next day 17th December, he succumbed and passed away.

Our father was a great man to us. It took us time to get to know him and become friends with him as we grew older with him.

To those who were fortunate enough to be his friends, he was a hilariously funny man, always cracking jokes and laughing his beautiful bellowing laugh.

He loved his children with all his heart.

Our father shall continue to live within us, his wife, children and grandchildren.