By Henry Kimoli
Phillip Ochieng has penned his last story. Vide his death, triggered by a pneumonia attack at his rural home in Asembo, Migori County.
Ochieng, the veteran modern-day journalist father was a hero to many, a villain to others. And a hard nut to crack. But even his worst critics admit that Ochieng was a brilliant journalist. A father figure to many scribes. A champion of the written word. A rabble-rouser. A gifted storyteller. A man on a permanent mission on what he believed in.
He made his name as the Editor in Chief of the Kenya Times. The KANU mouthpiece Ochieng used to publish chronicles of the independence Party.
Ochieng was to journalism what Professor Wathari Maathai was to the Environment. He inspired the profession to new, modern heights. It is his prowess in the published word that made many a, scribe troop back to school in search of knowledge.
According to Godfrey Myotumba, a lecturer at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University, Ochieng was a sure trove of knowledge but extremely difficult to open up. ” I first met him as a freelance journalist with Kenya Times during KANU days”, Nyotumba said.
Nyotumba says Ochieng.
He had information on how for Tanzania President Mwalimu Nyerere was allegedly one of the early officials of Luo East Africa, the Luo traditional religion and its connection to ancient Egypt, intrigues that led to Tom Mboya’s assassination, the great airlift( of which he was a beneficiary) and a comprehensive list of all beneficiaries some who never gave credit to Tom Mboya throughout their lives like Prof. Saitoti and Wangare Maathai.
All these treasures will be buried with the man.
