Described as an icon, dedicated leader, fighter and explicable civil servant, mourners hailed praises while celebrating the life of the late Bomet Governor, Joyce Laboso.
Mourners and Friend on Thursday gathered at the All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi to pay tribute to Dr.Laboso who succumbed on Monday after a long battle of cancer.
The late governor’s husband, Edwin Abonyo while eulogizing Laboso recalled the difficult moments the family has gone through after she was diagnosed with cancer back in the year1991.
“Joyce was wonderful; I find it hard to address her in the past. She first had cancer in 1991 when we only had Brian and Ted and still young and the news devastated us. She was treated in Nairobi hospital and healed from her first diagnosis ,” Abonyo remembered.
Abonyo further recalled how the wife put on a brave face hiding all her pain and suffering and how only her close friends and family knew of the cancer.
On the other hand, their children talked about how their mum fought bravely with cancer on her last days and acknowledged her for the exemplary teachings on humility and patience that she instilled in them during the years she spent with them.
The Deputy President, William Ruto hailed the late for being forthright, candid and truthful. He said Laboso was too large politically to be fitted in any camp and was a great woman leader in the country that traversed all shades of politics.
Women leaders led by Kitui Governor, Charity Ngilu glorified her for being a great woman leader in the country and being among the first women Governors.
“Death has dealt a hard blow to the women leadership in Kenya by robbing us Joyce, one of the most intelligent ,committed and prominent women leaders we had at present,” Ngilu remarked.
Ida Odinga eulogized the late as being leader since her high school days for she was determined, focused, very loving and a woman of the people.
Described as an iron lady, Laboso became the first female governor of Bomet after winning a titanic battle against Rift Valley political kingpin, Isaac Rutto in the 2017 elections.
Laboso will be laid to rest on Saturday 3rd August at her matrimonial home in Kisumu after the viewing of the body at Bomet’s Green stadium on Friday.
By Wangari Ndirangu
