AWORI LAID TO REST

FUNYULA, Kenya, Jun 21 - President Mwai Kibaki on Monday joined the family, relatives and friends of the late Hannington Awori who was laid to rest in his Funyula home, Samia district.

In his address to the mourners, President Kibaki urged Kenyans to earn friends from all corners of the country and strive to support them at all times in order to promote national unity and harmony.

Noting that he had known the deceased and other members of the larger Awori family for many years, the President said that Kenyans must strive to live as a family as efforts to foster closer ties in the East African region entered a new level from next month.

He said that the late Awori was a selfless and hardworking professional who sought to positively influence the lives of fellow workers and the entire country.

The Head of State noted that the deceased made the greatest impact in the corporate world where he steered many companies to exceptional performance and achievements.

In this regard the President noted that the late Hannington Awori had earned himself many friends not only in the country but the entire East African region and beyond as evidenced by the diverse mourners who joined the family during the funeral.

The Head of State said the late Awori had served the nation with distinction and was known for catapulting various corporate bodies to high levels of achievements and termed his burial as celebration of a life well spent.

During the occasion, President Kibaki noted that the set up of the Awori family across the Kenya/Uganda border had captured the aspirations of residents of East African Community who wished to live harmoniously and undertake unhindered close border trade.

In his message Prime Minister Raila Odinga eulogised the late Awori as a humble, hard working and excellent professional who excelled in every sphere of life.

Mr Odinga said that the Jaramogi family and that of the Aworis enjoyed long-standing relations dating back to pre-independence times.

The Prime Minister said that the larger Awori family had set standards in various social-economic spheres in the country particularly with regard to education and sports.

He noted that the colonial borders inherited by African states divided families and communities along the common borders and called for increased regional ties and cross-border trade.

The burial service was conducted by Bishop Josiah Were of Nambale Diocese.

The late Hannington Awori died at the age of 80.

Among the companies in which he served as a director include Nation Media Group, Standard Bank, Mabati Rolling Mills, Sygenta, Block Hotels, Phoenix Assurance and several others.

He was the brother of former vice-President Moody Awori, Ugandan Cabinet Minister Aggrey Awori and the founder and Director of Makini School, Dr Mary Okelo, Joshua Awori.

In attendance were Cabinet Ministers James Orengo, Fred Gumo, Paul Otuoma, several members of parliament, Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Amb. Francis Muthaura, Attorney General Amos Wako among other senior public and private sector officials.