The life and times of Otieno Fundi

The life and times of Otieno Fundi

The curtains finally closed down on a career builder of all seasons. Otieno Fundi, as he was famously known to his fellow villager succumbed to injuries he sustained as he was on duty demolishing a cattle pen in Sinaga village. JOHN OKINDA tries to trace back his career spanning over 28 years and has filed the report below


DEATH will for a long time to come continue to be a mystery to most of us. Perhaps most of us are never conscious that the cruel hand of death can strike right from within our places of work where we earn our daily bread. We are however, mostly certain that death could be looming if one is terminally ill.

The death of Otieno fundi marked the end or an era of what many people describe as ‘industrious and successful’. Otieno Fundi will be remembered by friends and foe alike as a competent, unrivalled and a superior builder of great repute.

Mwalimu Okinda Nyang’ who has known Otieno Fundi for close to 28 years says the people of Marenyo and Gem as a whole have lost ‘an exceptionally talented builder whose work will remain unmatched for a long period to come. “ I knew Otieno in 1977 through his first cousin Ombalo whom I had hired to construct my first house. He was a trainee builder with Ombalo but very smart and skilled then.”

Mwalimu Okinda says it was Otieno who ended up building the house he had contracted Ombalo to construct as Ombalo spent much of his time enjoying local brew instead of working. ‘I asked Otieno what he needed to build the house and he said he only needed the basic tool. “I bought him the tools and within 3 days, the five roomed house was complete” said Mwalimu Okinda.

But the construction of Mwalimu Okinda’s house was to mark the beginning of a career that span almost three decades for Otieno. He decided to go on his own and recruited a number of young men whom he trained as builders for the many years to follow. Little did Otieno know that his talents in construction would take him many places in Siaya district.

Otieno’s training as a builder started way back in the 1970’s when he was recruited as a trainee builder by his late first cousin, Wellington Odinya who was by then the pioneer builder in the entire sub-location. Otieno was later to work under the guidance of Ombalo, Odinya’s son. Otieno had then left school in class 6 at Jina Primary. He could not continue with his education after his elder brother, a teacher failed to pay his school fees. That was when he was recruited as a trainee builder by his first cousin, Odinya.

Otieno Fundi was a specialist in roof tops and was widely credited for his mastery of modern roof top designs. His designs are widely admired and adopted all over Gem. Some of the prominent persons who have contracted the services of Otieno Fundi include Dr. Ambrose Rachier, his brother Opiyo Rachier and a host of other people, rich and poor.

His sudden death as he demolished a cattle pen in Sinaga has finally marked the end to an illustrious career and reputation. It is in deed the demolition of all hopes to all and sundry who were his dependants as family, trainees and customers.