Thousands of mourners, relatives, colleagues and West Media management joined the family members of the late West FM presenter Millicent Khalechi Lumati in a requiem mass held at the Bungoma Christ The King Catholic church.
Speaking while preaching during the mass, the Parish priest Father Christopher Wanyonyi eulogised the late Lumati as a staunch believer who apart from her normal work as a presenter on West FM radio and West TV she also had the passion to preach and quote the bible on several occasions.
“According to me Milly was a preacher because through her programs in Amka na West FM, Changamka na West FM together with Barikiwa na West FM she used to quote verses in the bible and lately before she passed on she was fond of repeating the quote that life is a queue and we never knew why she used that term but she knew what she meant in life,“ said Father Wanyonyi.
Wanyonyi said that the late Millicent who worshipped at the church as a hard working lady who discovered and exploited her talents in the media industry through her programs both on TV and radio at the West Media where he worked till her untimely death.
“As a presenter a Christian and a Kenyan, Millicent discovered her talents and used it fully in her duties and that is why I have chosen the sermon on the people who were given different talents in the bible and how they utilised them,” added the priest.
However he challenged Christians to be prepared for the coming of Jesus Christ through their behaviours and deeds and always exploit their talents well other than being dependant to others.
He recalled how Millicent was active in the church and at her work place as he always listened to her programs on West FM radio and West TV and other platforms.
During the mass one of West Media Ltd directors Cyprian Wekesa and staff led by head of radio Nandemu Barasa and head of West TV Leonard Wamalwa eulogised their employ and colleague and remembered how industrious she was at her day-to-day duties.
“I have lost a daughter because for me all the staffs who work for West Media are my children because they have grown before us, they came when they were very young but Millicent as the priest preached everybody is unique, she was unique, she was humble, she was quiet but very confident, said Mr. Wekesa.
Wekesa pointed out the role that West Media is doing to enhance development and transform the region through its presenters and staff including Lumati whom she said had made a bigger impact in the region than many of the leaders in the region.
“I can tell you that what was spoken here about Millicent is correct. She used her talent to the best of her ability and she was not a staff that you will ask to do something and you follow up, she would deliver and for the three years she has been in West Media she has made a bigger impact in this province than the leaders you have and therefore she has played her role,” added Wekesa.
Challenged the Luhya Nation
He noted that Western region has the potential to succeed in many aspects of development and pointed out that the solutions of Western Kenya must be sought by the people of the region themselves.
“We believe in West Media that the solutions of Western Kenya must be delivered by the people of this region and do not look beyond because God made this region Canaan and there is no excuse for us not to succeed but the ticket is education..education..education,” he said.
He further emphasised on the essence for the people of Western to embrace education, which he said is the key issue for development in the region emphasizing that the region seems to be lagging behind in educational matters.
He pointed out the few numbers of graduands from various learning institutions especially universities and others including polytechnics among others where the people from the Luhya Nation graduating are not representative.
“Why do I look at the future of Western Kenya and it worries me,…. is that when you look at the graduation booklets that are produced in all universities in Kenya it shows we are not well represented and that is worrying,” Wekesa noted.
He argued that if at all the Luhya Nation say that they are number two in Kenya, then in every graduation booklet in a polytechnic, university, KMTC and every learning institution they should be number two in numbers such that if the Kikuyus are number one then in every three Kikuyus graduating there must be one Luhya graduating.
At the same time the director assured Lumati’s daughter Morine Miloya that West Media Ltd shall support her education to whatever level she wishes to reach but on condition that she performs in class.
Bungoma DEB primary school head teacher Tobias Khisa also eulogised the late Lumati describing her as a good parent who loved her children including her daughter Morine who is expected to sit for her KCPE exams in November this year and he also pledged to support the girl as a school.
West Media staff especially presenters and reporters recalled how they worked harmoniously with the late Lumati and admitted that her demise is a big blow to the station.
The family members of the late Lumati including her mother Wilfrida Lumati, husband Stanley Langat, daughter Morine Miloya and brothers and sisters eulogised their beloved one with each of them recalling how the late experienced presenter touched their lives and assisted them in one way or another.
The mass was also attended by West FM Fans from various parts of the region and they also registered their condolences and their closeness with the late Lumati whom they said used to visit them in their respective groups and educate them on many aspects of life.
After the requiem mass the body of the late Lumati was taken to her residence at Yanja area within Bungoma town through a long convoy of vehicles that snailed through the main streets of Bungoma town.
While at her residence members of the public, friends, neighbours and well-wishers had an opportunity to view her body and pay their last respects to the late Millicent Lumati before her body was later in the afternoon taken to her parents’ home in Makhokho sub-location in Ikolomani constituency of Kakamega county where she will be laid to rest on Saturday 1st October 2016.