A somber mood engulfed the home of renowned scholar, journalist and writer
Ken Walibora Waliaula following his demise. The late Walibora was hit by a matatu on Friday last week, but his body was later found at the Kenyatta National Hospital mortuary on Wednesday.
Relatives led by his stepmother Eunice Wafula said he was the breadwinner of the family and he always made sure his siblings had all they needed. She explained how he paid school fees for his siblings, since their father passed away around 20 years ago. She said death has robbed them of a supportive and very industrious son.
Speaking on how she got the news of his demise, she said she was turned in circles with contrasting reports, with some relatives confirming Walibora’s death and others rubbishing the reports. “I started receiving phone calls concerning Ken’s death with some
people passing their messages of condolences and stating that our son was involved in grisly road accident while others claimed that Ken was involved in an accident but was improving. Only to be drawn later to a story on the media on his demise,” she said.
Relatives present at the homestead led by Robert Masaba explained how the late Walibora was loved by both the young and old in the area. He said that whenever Walibora arrived in the area, people would rush to have a chat with him and he would shower them with presents, adding that he respected everyone.
His childhood friends explained how he was a star football player when he was young and that he was known for his brand of entertaining football that was loved by many. They said he also helped them in matters education by constructing a modern class and toilet at Suwerwa school as well as sponsoring bright students.
Professionals led by Dr. Andrew Luke Wafula, a lecturer at Masinde Muliro University praised the late Walibora, saying he raised the language ladders, especially Kiswahili.
Ken Walibora Waliaula was born in 1965 at Chebukaka village in Teremi in Bungoma County being the fourth child in the family of seven. His family then moved to Cherangany in Trans Nzoia and he went to school at St. Joseph’s Primary School in Kitale where his father was a teacher, joined
Teremi Secondary School in Bungoma County and later Suremi Secondary School and later Ole Kajiado and Koelel High Schools.
