Malachi Nyindodo Olende

Uncle Malachi:

You were one in a million.  You loved as your own and I remember when I came to see you before I left for the States and told you that I was coming to study...the first thing you did was take out some pens and pencils and you give them to me to use while I was in school...funny but it shows how thoughtful, kind, and a no joke uncle he was.  Then you gave me this big beer mug and told me to get together with my friends on the day of my graduation; enjoy a glass of beer and salute you. So, yes I get to celebrate my graduation this year and salute you.

Cheers to Uncle Malachi!

Dad you were a great person, filling the gaps you left has not been easy. You taught us how to be independent and learn to know that everything willl never be gotten on a silver plate. We learnt through all that and  for sure made us your children better people.

We miss you alot sometimes when we talk about you all we see from each other is tears of the love and joy we shared with you. We have alot of memories still lingering fresh in our minds.

Love you always

Rest in Peace Jamming!

There is a lot of great memories that I can share but what I remember vividly is when "Chui" our hero dog barked in a special way when you made a turn by Bhayani Primary on your way home. A messy and fully packed living room would turn to a neat empty room within seconds and everyone would disappear in their respective rooms as if nothing had happened.

Nyatieng ki tieng... you made me who I am today. Your persistence, discipline and no nonsence attitude brought a sense of hard work and independence amongst your kids. I can proudly say today that  my ability to face life head on without fear is because of your teaching and hands on approach. I love you and we dearly miss you.

May the Lord rest your soul in peace.

The other day in Memphis at Emmy and Jaramogi’s house we were reminiscing about you.  I laughed my heart out when I remembered how you’d take roll call, and ask Ng’ama nikanyo”, followed by eeeh!  Dad you were classic! 

Those lectures you gave us when school opened did not go to waste.  Today, I am who I am because of you baba.   I giggle so often when I remember how you reviewed our school-shopping list.  I miss your cooking dad; you were the best cook I’ve ever met. 

More so, I remember your famous saying “ng’ech neno gi wang’e” for that I continue to do good, and use my “kathirawich” like you always said.

I miss you very much.  Rest in Peace.

Love daughter, Emily

Dad was not only a father to us but to many. He valued family more than anything and because of that he made us be what we are today.

 Dad was also the greatest disciplinarian for those who knew him. But even though he was a " jamming" he had such soft spots. I remember when i was in high school... i frequently got sick and there is this one time i got very sick in school and the principal did not let him know untill i got worse. Thats the day she knew there was no messing with dad!. dad woke up at weird hours to give me my medicine and nurtured me back to health while mum was away. He loved us so much in his own way. I am proud to have him as my dad and would have not asked God for a better dad than him.

We miss you so very much dad but your legacy still lives within us. Rest in Peace Nyatieng. You were a great man!

I miss you on our birthday but i know you are there with me.

Love you dad

Thank you for being the best Dad you could – we miss you dearly.   Your legacy will continue to radiant through your children and those you helped. 

Your house was open to family.  I remember as a child, so many relatives stopping by unannounced and you welcomed them without asking how long they would stay.   We learnt a lot about our relatives that way.  When I come home, I still hear a lot from family members and folks around home who miss you deeply and remember all you did for them.

You gave up a lot to help others succeed.  Your love for Kusa brought us close to our culture and understanding of where we come from – I look back now, and am grateful for having experienced it all.  You taught us how to appreciation the little things and how to maximize any opportunity to enable success and independence – that’s what’s drives me, so thank you!

Your children in the US got together this past Christmas at Jara and Emme’s house and we were reminiscing about you – what you used to do – this was great memory!  We laughed and cried.  You really left a footprint in all of us that we will carry with us through our children and beyond.

Rest in peace!