IN LOVING MEMORY || KENNETH AMOS OCHIENG OGOLLA | 1964 - 2026

Today, we have come together to celebrate the life of Kenneth Ochieng Amos Ogolla, affectionately known as Ja Hula. To each of us, he was something different; a loving husband, a doting father, a cherished grandfather, a dependable brother, a caring uncle, a respected leader, and a loyal friend. Though we mourn his passing, we also give thanks for the life he lived and the legacy he leaves behind. Kenneth was born at noon on Sunday, January 12, 1964, at Pumwani Maternity Hospital in Nairobi. In keeping with Luo tradition, he was named Ochieng, signifying the time of his birth during daylight hours. He was also named after his maternal grandfather, Oyeyo ka Rabuku, a name he carried with pride throughout his life. Though Nairobi was his birthplace, his roots ran deep in Rabuor Village, Siaya County, where his family heritage and cultural identity were firmly established. As a proud member of the Nyinek Clan, he was known as Ja Hula, reflecting the clan's ancestral origins from Yimbo Hula Kodero. Kenneth was the youngest child of George Robert Ongoya Ogolla and Jennifer Akinyi Ogolla. He grew up in a loving home alongside his siblings, Janet Apondi Mabwa, Lillian Anyango Were, and Beneah Tom Ogolla. Raised in a family guided by the principles of African socialism, he shared his childhood with numerous cousins, uncles, aunts, nephews, and nieces who found a home under his father's roof in Nairobi. Those who knew him as a child remember a sweet, cheerful, playful, and sometimes cheeky young boy whose warm personality would later become one of his defining characteristics. Kenneth was baptized at St. Stephen's Church on Jogoo Road, where he received the Christian names Kenneth and Amos. The name Kenneth was chosen in honor of the renowned Zambian freedom fighter, Kenneth Kaunda, reflecting the hopes and aspirations his family held for him. His educational journey began at Park Road Primary School, continued through Lenana School and Strathmore School