Kenyan Community Plan Fundraising for the Late Onyango

A section of Kenyans meeting to plan for the burial of the late Paul Onyango bow down in prayer led by Pastor Jeremiah githere, far left . H.Maina/Ajabu

By Harrison Maina, AjabuAfrica.com

LOWELL, Mass. MAY 15_A fund raising drive to repatriate the body of the late Paul Onyango back to Kenya as per the wishes of his parents has been organized to take place next Sunday, May 23rd at the Saint Stephens’ church in Lowell at 2pm, with backing of the Kenya Pastors’ Association and the Kenya Christians’ Welfare Association.

The comforting developments came as new details emerged yesterday on how the late Paul Onyango had recently made progress on putting his life back in order after he became homeless. He started attending weekly Piano classes, learning to play music instruments in church and finally gave his life to Jesus in Salvation.

The new details were revealed by Rev. Jeremiah Githere during a hastily arranged meeting to form a fundraising committee that will coordinate efforts to raise funds and organize the repatriation of Onyango’ body back to Kenya for a decent burial.

The body of late Paul Onyango, 27, also known as Pablo, was pulled from the Hamilton Canal, located at the base of the old Freudenberg building on Jackson Street, downtown Lowell last Thursday May 6, by the Lowell fire department personnel. It was reported in the media that it was difficult to identify the race of the dead man at that time as the body appeared to have been in the water for several days.

Eventually though, authorities were able to determine and confirm the identity of the body and informed the next of kin in Nairobi, Kenya . Now, members of the Kenyan community in Lowell and surrounding areas are making arrangements to repatriate the body.

The initial commitee meeting took place at the new Ajabu Africa offices on 297 West Sixth Street in Lowell, next to Saint Stephens’ church where the fundraising will be held next week.

The late Paul Onyango "Pablo" leaves the sanctuary while carrying the pastor's bag after a recent church service at the Grace International Church in Billerica, Ma. Pable went missing one week after this picture was taken. pic by church member.

Over 20 Kenyans from as far as Dover New Hampshire, Lowell, Boston, Malden and other cities attended the meeting and formally formed a committee that   decided to continue meeting at the same venue temporarily at 6pm daily.

During the meeting, Rev. Githere said that since he met Onyango at a homeless shelter in Lowell, he had been in contact with him on a weekly basis and gave him $75 a week to assist him  purchase some basic things.

Rev. Githere said that Onyango was a very obedient man who took all the advice the pastor gave him to start putting his life back on track.

“Our church signed him up for piano classes twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Saint Stephens’ live band music school. He also came to our church and trained to play the piano under the leadership of the regular church piano player,” said Rev. Githere.

He added that he personally brought Onyango to search for jobs and filled several applications at various places including a Wendy’s restaurant that had invited Onyango for an interview although he did not make it for unknown reasons.

Rev. Githere had also promised Onyango that he would pay to have him go back to college once he pulled himself back together.

The pastor told Kenyans that over the last two and a half months that he knew Onyango; he (Onyango) became increasingly spiritual, telling him he wanted to know more about the Bible and God. The search for new spiritual dimension for Onyango culminated in him getting saved at the Grace International church.

“He kept telling me he wants to get saved. Then one Sunday, he stood up in our church and gave a testimony that he has now gotten saved, said Rev. Githere.

Rev. Jeremiah Githere with some of the Kenyans who attended the initial commitee meeting

The Reverend said that he was surprised not to see Onyango one week after he got saved at the usual place he always met him in downtown Lowell.

“He did not come to church the following two weeks and we got very concerned. It was a big blow for us to hear of the sudden death of Onyango,” he added.

Rev. Githere added that he was in contact with the deceased’s parents back in Kenya and the Kenyan embassy in Washington DC to work out the logistics of transporting the body back home.

He added that it was not possible to hold the funds drive at his church as they are on transition to a new location, which has not been finalized yet. “However, I talked to the pastor of the saint Stephen church and they are willing to open their doors for the Kenyan community to hold the fundraiser”.

Several others Kenyan callers  said that Onyango had also attended a Sunday service at the Saint Stephens’ church recently, indicating that the late Kenyan was God fearing and on a path to fix his unfortunate situation in life occasioned by the effects of the loss of several jobs in a recessionary economy.

The body of the late Onyango is still with the coroner to establish the cause of death as investigations continue.

Speaking on phone with Ajabu Africa, the chairman of the Kenya Christians’ Welfare Association, Stephen Njuguna, urged all Kenyans in New England and out of state to help in any way and means possible to raise funds to help the family of the late Onyango repatriate the body.

Stephen Njuguna, chairman of the Kenya Christians Welfare Association

“We call upon all the churches and Kenyans across New England to help deal with this situation as this man was a Kenyan regardless of the circumstances surrounding his death, just like we have done for others many times before,” urged Njuguna.

He said he was confident of the community’s ability to come up with $15,000 needed to cater for the final expenses for the departed Kenyan within a short period of time.

A bank account will be established by Monday where funds can be deposited by those willing donors who can not make it to the daily committee meetings and actual fundraising event next Sunday.

All Kenyans from everywhere are requested to help in raising the necessary funds for this critical matter in their community.

For more information, people can keep checking the announcements page on AjabuAfrica.com website for updates or contact:

Rev.Jeremiah Githere: (978) 726-6710
Catherine Macharia : (978) 996-0030
Facebook: In honor of 'Pablo'

SUNDAY,  MAY 23
TIME : 2pm

 VENUE: SAINT STEPHEN COMMUNITY CHURCH

 279 WEST 6th St, LOWELL, MA, 01850. Get directions

Welcome All

Checks and funds deposits can can be made to:

PAUL ONYANGO FUNERAL FUND

ENTERPRISE BANK
430 GORHAM ST, LOWELL, MA 01852
PHONE: (978) 656 - 5518

The most recent Pictures before Pablo passed away and the prayers and fund raising commitee meetings.
Meetings start strictly from 6pm to 8 pm daily. 297 West 6th st, Lowell, MA 01801