A long serving Information Officer and a mentor to many journalists in Kenya, late Mary Pauline Namalwa Ikanda, was, yesterday, laid to rest in a burial ceremony attended by hundreds of mourners in Naitiri, Bungoma County.
The late Pauline, 51 years old, had served at the Department of Information for 26 years and before her demise was the Trans Nzoia County Information Officer based in Kitale. She is survived by a husband George Lusweti and five children.
Speaking during the burial ceremony held at her home in Pwani village, Naitiri within Bungoma County, Father Emmanuel Ayieko of Ndalu Catholic Church praised the late Pauline and asked mourners to emulate her example of giving and serving others.
Father Ayieko asked residents to be cautious always of the need of others and have a heart of assistance to those in difficulty.
The Clergy cautioned residents and mourners against worshipping their wealth, saying some people have fallen prey to social status and material things instead of depending on God who gives life.
In a condolence message read on her behalf by the Director of Information, Joseph Kipkoech, The Principal Secretary, State Department of Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Esther Koimett, eulogized Pauline as a colleague who was dear to many and was held in high regard.
Koimett said Pauline was a focused Information Officer who was always ready to go an extra mile when performing her duties and any other work assigned to her.
She added that Pauline’s close friends and colleagues described her as a person who was positive about life, had a listening ear and considerate heart and was always ready to help others when called upon to do so.
PS Koimett described Pauline as an amiable, humble and patient person who was committed to her work.
She called on Pauline’s friends, relatives and colleagues to uphold the values she held dear, such as commitment to duty and family.
Pauline’s husband, George Lusweti, eulogized her as a loving friend and a mother who gave her whole for the sake of the family.
“Pauline was committed to her work and she would write even ten stories in the night and send in the morning and she has mentored many people in her line of duty,” said Lusweti.
By Maureen Imbayi
