Mourners from all walks of life flocked the home of former chairman of the Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU) and founder member of the Cooperative Bank of Kenya Jamin John Musundi a.k.a JJ Musundi to pay their last respects to him as he was laid to rest in his home in Waitaluk village, Kiminini constituency.
JJ Musundi 91, was who passed on after succumbing to asthmatic attacks and other ailments related to old age was remembered by many mourners as a dedicated co-operator who brought economic independence among Africans in post-independence Kenya.
The late co-operator was among the eight directors who founded the Cooperative Bank in mid 1960s and later the Cooperative Insurance Company – CIC which was his brain child while serving as chairman of KPCU and has become one of the biggest insurance companies in the East African region.
However one of the speakers Daniel Marube from the cooperative sector despite appreciating how the cooperative sector that was and initiated and founded by the late Musundi, he said it is unfortunate that the institutions that he left have since been brought down by the people who inherited from Mzee Musundi.
“We are here to honor Mzee Musundi because of what he did to this country to initiate many institutions including KPCU where he was the first African chair among others but it so unfortunate that those who took over from him have eaten and finished KPCU and those who took over KCC have since drunk all the milk and left the institution on its knees,” said Marube.
However the late Musundi was also remembered for his unending love for coffee whereby as the chairman of KPCU he led from the front and offered his coffee farm for demonstrations whereby farmers were trained and educated on coffee farming as much as he could have utilized the farm for his personal interest to earn profits but his selflessness led him to give priority to others.
“That man lying there was a great man who did many things for this country that many people here cannot remember including being the first manager of the Elgon Nyanza Farmers Cooperative Union based in Bungoma among many other things that he did in the cooperative sector,” said Wasike a former permanent Secretary.
Representatives from the Cooperative Bank who attended the funeral on behalf of the managing director appreciated the efforts done by the late Musundi to be part of the founders of the bank that has now employed over 5000 people.
Musundi was also remembered for his selflessness after he gave out part of his land to be utilized in putting up public facilities such as administrative offices hosting provincial administrators in Chesikaki where he hailed from before moving to Trans Nzoia where he also gave out land for the chief’s office in Waitaluk and another piece to the Friends church in the same area.
Apart from giving land to host the chief’s office in Chesikaki in Mt. Elgon Sub-county he also gave out another piece in the same locality for the construction of a health centre – Chesikaki health Centre among many other things that friends, administrators, children and government officers remembered him for.
“Apart from my dad out land to build offices for our administrators and other public facilities, he also gave out one acre land to the Mukomosi Quakers land here in Waitaluk or else the church could not be in existence now,” said his eldest son Philip Matanda as he eulogised his father.
Musundi was a soccer Star
The octogenarian was remembered as an instrumental sportsman who played soccer for the national team and captained it during the then Gossage cup in the 1950s and also as an athlete who participated in the 440m relays during his early years.
“My dad was a close friend of mine and we used to chat a lot and he told me many stories and one day I asked him if he can recall some of his team mates in then national soccer team where he was the captain and he counted all the eleven players and the reserves and i was amazed how his memory was still fresh despite his age,” said Onesmus Musundi his second last son.
Several politicians who attended the funeral including Trans Nzoia governor Patrick Khaemba and senator Henry Ole Ndiema lauded the late Mzee’s efforts to transform the society through cooperative movement and the generosity that he embraced to assist the less fortunate in the society.
Khaemba urged the sons of the late Musundi to hold on their father’s legacy and ensure that the large farm and other assets left behind are utilized to their initial intentions.
Senator Ndiema called upon the county and national government to promote and revive the cooperative sector which he said was on the verge of collapse so that it can assist many Kenyans especially in the rural sector in honor of the late Musundi who dedicated his life in promoting the same.
“As an honour to the late Mzee John Musundi who was the champion of Cooperative movement in the country, I urge the national and county governments to allocate enough money to enable farmers put up more cooperatives that can transform their lives,” said Ole Ndiema.
Others present included MPs Janet Nangabo and Ferdinand Wanyonyi of Kwanza together with former minister Dr. Noah Wekesa and politicians aspiring to vie for different seats such as Peter Kusimba , Kiminini parliamentary seat, Christine Tanguli and Dr. Susan Nakhumicha Wafula both gunning for the seat of women representative in Trans Nzoia among others.