Former director of information Joseph Owiti dies in Kisumu

Former director of information Joseph Daniel Owiti has died.

The veteran journalist’s wife, Dr Monica Adhiambo Olewe confirmed to KNA on Tuesday that Mr Owiti died at a fitness centre in Kisumu town Monday afternoon after having gone through his routine body exercises.

According to KNA, his widow said he drove himself from his Mamboleo estate home to Kisumu town in good health.

“He told me that he wanted to take his vehicle to the garage before going to a gymnasium where he frequented for his body exercise,” she told KNA.

Dr Olewe said she remained behind due to fears occasioned by the anti-IEBC protests that rocked the lakeside city on Monday.

She explained that during his exercise, he complained to his brother Dr Geoffrey Owiti and his elder sister Mrs Olima that he was feeling some chest pains.

“His sister and brother, with whom they were together at the gym suggested that he sees a doctor down stairs, which he obliged and was given an injection,” she added.

He then went back to continue with his exercises but the chest pains persisted.

The doctor was urgently called to the gymnasium to attend to him. According to her, Mr Owiti refused to be taken to the medical centre downstairs opting to walk only to collapse at the clinic’s entrance.

He was rushed to Aga Khan Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to the family, Mr Owiti‘s death came as a big shock since he had been given a clean bill of health barely 10 days earlier at MP Shah, Nairobi after a comprehensive medical test.

He is survived by Dr Olewe (widow) and three sons; Charles Olewe Owiti, Brian Olewe Waswala and Eugene Olewe Ochieng'.

Mr Owiti who retired on July 7, 2015 after serving the Department of Information since 1980 will be fondly missed by his colleagues who have been sending messages of condolences to the bereaved family.

The Acting Director of Information Mr Gwaro Ogaro broke the sad news to members of staff in a WhatsApp message at 6.00pm.

He said: “Colleagues, BAD NEWS: Joseph Daniel Olewe Owiti has passed on in Kisumu this afternoon. Sources close to his family indicate Mr Owiti collapsed at a local gymnasium and upon being rushed to hospital he was certified Dead on Arrival (DOA)!”

Mr Owiti joined the Department in December 1980 as Assistant Information Officer, and worked in Nairobi.

In 1982, he went to Taita Taveta as a District Information Officer (DIO) then went to Kisumu in the same capacity.

While still at the lakeside town, he rose to become the Provincial Information officer (PIO) in charge of Nyanza region.

He later returned to Nairobi and his knowledge of French saw him attached to the Pan African News Agency (Pana) desk before he went to head the Vihiga District Information Office before proceeding to serve as PIO Western Province.

In the later years of his service, Joe, as many of his friends called him, headed the Mobile Cinema Unit and then Kenya News Agency (KNA) at the Department Headquarters.