Gem keeps giving Kenyans iconic legends. I had no idea Prof. George Magoha was from Gem. I know Onyango Oloo came from there.
Renowned historian, academic, and writer Prof Bethwell Allan Ogot is from Gem. I know that because my friend Onyango Oloo used to tell me about him. OO as we knew him in the activist world is also from Gem and he was very proud of his birthplace.
OO grew up in Mombasa where his family was and his father was working there. We were both student activists and we used to talk about Argwings Kodhek for example as a revolutionary lawyer in the national independence movement.
He was actually the first Kenyan to open a law firm in our country and was a key figure in the first national government under President Jomo Kenyatta and VP Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
So Onyango Oloo my good comrade with whom I shared very difficult conditions at Nairobi Law court and the Industrial Area Remand Prison used to talk to me about the legacy of the Gem folks where he comes from in Kenyan evolutions in all areas.
OO passed away a few years ago and I said what I thought about him as a human being and a human rights activist. That is for another day.
And another OOO. Triple O we used to call him.
Prof. Oki Ooko Ombaka who used to teach us Law even though I was not a Law student at the university is from down there too. Oki helped us to draft a constitution for the Students Organization of Nairobi University (SONU).
Him and Prof. Willy Mutunga and Dr. Shadrack Gutto all from the Faculty of Law used to teach us how to write a constitution for a movement for the youth at the university. Then we did it and we were in the field with it dealing with the Moi dictatorship.
Today is about George Magoha.
It is doubly disheartening that his brother another medical professional died in Texas in the USA almost at the same time. Our greatest condolences. You have done your country proud and good. Go in peace and glory. It is a very bad time for the family but you will get over it. Kenyans will honour you forever.
