It is with deep sorrow that we
announce the death of Samuel Okumu Okwany of Jimo
Olwalo, Upper Olwalo Sub Location, Olwalo Location, Central Nyakach in Kisumu
County.
Samuel Okumu Okwany died on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital after a short illness.
Okumu Okwany was the loving husband
of Elizabeth Achieng Okumu. He leaves behind five children namely Clifford
Okoth, Brian Okwany, Eunice Awino, Eugene Ochieng and Alvin Odhiambo.
Samuel Okumu Okwany
was born on February 2, 1955. He
will be buried in Jimo, Nyakach on April 17, 2025.
Okumu Okwany attended Gobei Primary and Ramba Secondary. He
joined the Kenya Air Force in 1976 as a fighter pilot.
Okumu Okwany was an 82 Coup detainee. He was wounded on August 1, 1982, during the attempted military coup to overthrow the
government of President Daniel Moi. He was arrested and subsequently held at Kamiti Maximum
and Naivasha Maximum Security prisons.
In April 1983, Samuel Okumu was detained without trial.
Other political prisoners detailed with Okumu Okwanya included Raila
Odinga, Kihoro Wanyiri, Mkangi Katama,
Kariuki Isiaiah Ngotho, Miano Gacheche, Gathitu Kariuki, Kariuki Mirugi,
Onyango Patrick Ouma, Mukaru Nga’nga,
Guya Richard Obuon and Paul Amina.
Okumu Okwany was detained for five years and was transferred from
Naivasha Maximum Security Prison to Shimo la Tewa Maximum Security Prison
Mombasa. He was released on April 30, 1987, and taken to his rural home in Nyakach, Kisumu County.
He was re-arrested in August 1988 and interrogated in connection
with being part of those in close ties with the then opposition leader Jaramogi
Oginga Odinga. He was subsequently taken to Nyayo House Torture Chambers,
beaten and thrown into a waterlogged cell.
Okumu Okwany has spent the last couple of years in and out of court battling the government to release more than Kshs. 10 million awarded for wrongful detention.
He will be buried in in Jimo Olwalo in Nyakach on Thursday, April 17, 2025, without seeing a single penny from the judgement delivered by the Constitutional and Human Rights court on March 3, 2022.
