Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong led thousands of mourners to Amukura Central ward in Teso South Sub County Saturday to bid farewell to the late Gabriel Itela, 79, a retired career banker and former Iteso cultural leader.
The former Iteso Cultural Union Deputy Prime Minister died on 6th January 2021 after developing breathing problems, before collapsing at his
Sidelewa village.
Dozens of Busia leaders present eulogized the deceased as a man with a brilliant brain who became the first student from the Iteso community in Kenya to excel with Division One of six points in the Cambridge Overseas
Examination at St. Peter’s Seminary- Mukumu.
Ojaamong eulogized the late Itela as a trusted man who discharged his duties diligently whenever given a chance.
“When I appointed him as the first CDF chairman for Amagoro Constituency (now Teso South and Teso North Constituencies) Mzee Itela served with distinction and established a model for development projects in Teso region.
He managed to distribute equitably the first disbursement of Sh6 million from Changara to Busia town,” Ojaamong recounted.
Area legislator Geoffrey Omuse described the departed soul as a generous and charitable man who will be dearly missed by many.
His Nambale counterpart Nambale John Bunyasi said he knew Itela in 1962 when he broke record at St. Peter’s Seminary by passing with flying colours, adding that he was “a big brilliant brain” and a substitute teacher who taught them Latin and Mathematics.
Other leaders present included Busia County Assembly Speaker Bernard Wamalwa, former MPs Paul Otuoma, Mary Emaase, and Engineer Vincent Sidai.
Wamalwa described the late Itela as his father who sold him a piece of land in Karen, Nairobi where he put up a residence.
The deceased’s family members led by widows Gladys and Imelda described their fallen husband as a forgiving, a counselor, cheerful, generous and a selfless person.
The late Itela worked as a Director with Standard Chartered Bank before retiring as a supervisor with the Central Bank of Kenya.
By Melechezedeck Ejakait/Christine Sikolia
