Kenya football legend Austin ‘Makamu’ Oduor’s family has appointed the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Performance and Delivery Management in the Executive Office of the President of Kenya, Eliud Owalo, as the chairman of the National Funeral Organizing Committee ahead of the legend’s burial slated for Saturday, November 9 at his home in Makunga Village, Navakholo Constituency, Kakamega County
Makamu’s body is lying at the Aga Khan Hospital Mortuary in Kisumu City.
In his statement, Owalo, the former ICT & Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary, announced, “We are here to give Austin a sendoff befitting a man of his stature, and this committee has been formed specifically to address that. He served this nation with dedication, and his legacy will be celebrated by future generations.”
The Deputy Chief of Staff will be responsible for coordinating the burial program and will be assisted by Sports Principal Secretary Peter Tum.
Makamu, 65, passed away on October 16, just two days after attending a public event in Rarieda, Siaya County, where he gave a motivational talk to players from Dero and Siger FC.
The duo will be supported by Ambrose Rachier, chairman of Gor Mahia FC; Dan Shikhanda, chairman of AFC Leopards FC; Jared Nevaton, chairman of Shabana FC and Cleopas Simanyula, chairman of Kakamega Homeboyz FC.
Committee members also include Kenyan soccer legends David Ochieng ‘Kamoga’, JJ Masiga, Tobias ‘Jua Kali’ Ocholla and Washington Muhanji, who was Austin’s vice captain at Harambee Stars.
Other members are former Harambee Stars coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee besides sports journalists Elias Makori, Mike Okinyi, Elynah Shivekha and James Waindi (president of the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya – SJAK).
Oduor was Gor Mahia’s 1987 Africa Mandela Cup-winning captain. He also captained the Kenya National Soccer Team, Harambee Stars, from 1986 to 1988.
The no-nonsense defender was the father of former Harambee Stars goalkeeper Arnold Origi and uncle to former Belgium National Team and Liverpool FC forward Divock Origi.
