Leaders from various ranks in Nyamira County and beyond eulogized the late millionaire businessman, Stephen Mogeni during his burial on Sunday as a great philanthropist, who never shied away from helping less fortunate members of the society.
Led by Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS), Dr. Fred Matiang’i, the leaders said the deceased transformed lives of hundreds of people who depended on him directly and indirectly through his tea processing factory in Nyamira.
“The late Mogeni was a great hero, the more reason why he was granted Head of State Commendation (HSC) because of the good works he selflessly did to transform the lives of the people, something all of us need to emulate at our own levels,” Dr. Matiang’i said.
On his part, Kisii County Governor, James Ongwae, said the departed millionaire who earlier on started his own Kerumbe coffee processing factory, helped many coffee farmers who had lost hope in the crop due to rampant incidents of theft, leaving farmers to incur huge losses after harvest.
On the other hand, the Nyamira County governor, John Nyangarama eulogized Mogeni as a great educationist courtesy of The Mogeni Tea Factory Foundation where he was paying school fees for over 300 needy students from the area.
Additionally, the deceased has even set up private primary school to cater for education needs of children of his factory workers and even those whose parents plucked tea in his estate and its environs.
At the same time, the Nyamira Senator, Okongo Omogeni and also a nephew to the late Mogeni said the deceased was a great adviser, even on matters politics and despite being in different political parties, he never failed to advise him on how to go about his campaigns.
Other leaders present, included Nyamira and Kisii County Deputy governors, Amos Nyaribo and Joash Maangi respectively, Kericho County Senator Aron Cheruiyot, legislators Shadrack Mose (Kitutu Masaba), Ben Nyamoko (North Mugirango) Ben Momanyi (Borabu) and scores of MCAs from the two counties.
Meanwhile, children of the departed philanthropist promised to continue supporting a programme started by their late father to support women turning 70 years and have no other source of income, by giving them a monthly stipend of Sh.4000 to ensure his legacy is passed on to future generations.
By Deborah Bochere
