GLADYS HARRIET NAMATAKA OWINYI

The Owinyi family lost a pillar on June 3, 2020, when Mrs Gladys Harriet Namataka Owinyi died after a long illness. Mrs Owinyi was born on November 11, 1958 at Budadiri village In Mbale, Uganda.

She was the sixth of Enock and Rebecca Zesaguii’s nine children, the others being Ida, Hellen, Rachel, the late Lorna, the late Sam, Irene, Joyce and Rotzett. She was the wife of the late Elly Kefa Owinyi, with whom she had five children – Derrick Lwatati (Raflki Microfinance Bank), Ronnie Masanga (Mars Wrigley), the late Linah, Allan Mola (EK Owinyi & Co. Advocates) and Jill Namatsi (Nation Media Group). She was mother-in-law of Lucy Muthoni, Jacky Kwonyike and Eva Odongo, and grandmother of Kimberly, Kyle, Jelani, Wamaitha, Amara, Kenzo, Odell and Adele.

Mrs Owinyi was a veteran teacher who taught English and Literature at State House Girls’, Kakamega School and Mukumu where she remained until her retirement In 2015. She enjoyed teaching, writing short stories, literature, country and reggae music. Nigerian movies, rescuing and keeping pets, farming, gardening and taking care of the less fortunate.

Mrs Owinyi battled with health complications from April 2018. She suffered high blood pressure and arthritis and was later diagnosed with acute kidney injuries, multiple organ dysfunction, sepsis and a heart condition. She was treated at Avenue, Nairobi South and Ruai Family hospitals, the latter at which she died after suffering cardiac arrest.

The Owinyi family thanks all who supported them throughout Mrs Owinyi’s Illness and until the final rites were performed on June 8. These are the Zesaguli families in Uganda and the UK and the Otlende family in Kakamega; the Nairobi Lighthouse Church led by pastors Nelson Gichohi and Kevin Malu; Avenue, Nairobi South and Ruai Family hospitals; Doctors George Moturi and Victor Ng’ani, Rafiki Microfinance, Mars Wrigley and NMG; the Kakamega School Alumni Association led by William Ojonyo (Kenya international Freight and Warehousing Association), the Mumias Boys’ Old Boys Association, USIU-Africa’s Gemba class of 2014 and the Nairobi School Class of 1995; Siginon Group, members of the Law Society of Kenya led by President Nelson Havi, Justices Dorah Chepkwony and Wilfrida Osodo, Omugolfers Reloaded, Gang Deh and KYRC.

Rest In peace, dear mama Missing you always, remembering you forever