Gor Mahia fan Onjwelo Kipwepwe enjoys controlling traffic in Kisumu

If your arrival or departure from the lakeside city of Kisumu is through Kakamega or Nairobi highway and in particular through Patel Place near United Mall, then you probably have seen a unique traffic controller in green uniform that mocks colonial era chiefs.

The self-proclaimed ‘sergeant’ Onjwelo Kipwepwe has been a regular figure on this section of the road since 2013.

Many have become accustomed to the role he plays at the crossroads every morning.

So who is ‘sergeant’ Onjwelo Kipwepwe?

“My real name is Ronald Otieno, an ardent Gor Mahia fan based in Kibuye Market in Kisumu. People here just know me by the name Kipwepwe,” he says.

Otieno grew up in Manyatta slums and attended Manyatta Primary Schooland later joined Ngere Secondary school where he was active in drama through which he earned the name Kipwepwe.

“I was nicknamed Kipwepwe because I used to struggle with words when training for skits at Ngere. But it’s a Swahili word for an itchy rush. I don’t know why they gave me that name,” he says.

The 20-year-old got the name ‘corporal’ Onjwelo Kipwepwe when he started supporting Gor Mahia back in 2012.

He was not impressed by the tag corporal and opted for sergeant.

By that time he was forced to travel all the way to Nairobi to watch his favorite club play at City Stadium or Nyayo Stadium.

He fancies the Tom Mboya statue in Nairobi where Gor Mahia fans occasionally converge after matches.

“People think that I started controlling traffic in Kisumu but the truth is my passion for this call dates back to 2012 with my first assignment being along Tom Mboya Avenue,” he said.

NAIROBI TRAFFIC LIGHTS

He adds: “I had gone to Nairobi to watch Gor Mahia play Sofapaka and keenly followed how the traffic lights worked and took the opportunity to assume the role of a traffic officer.

"People really encourage me and I kept doing it.”

After the match, he thought of Kisumu and immediately singled out the Patel crossroad and the roundabout at Mega City on Kisumu-Nairobi highway.

“I picked the two areas because they were always full of traffic jam and those who suffered a lot were school children trying to access the avenues. I wanted to rescue them,” he adds.

Last year in February, armed with his green suit, he started controlling traffic at Patel area in the morning and Mega City in the evening every day.

“People encouraged me to carry on and I was really impressed that they appreciated what I was doing especially when police were not around.”

‘My day starts at 6am till 10am and then from 4pm to around 6pm in the evening. I enjoy my work,” says Onjwelo.

During his ‘service’ he has met the Kisumu’s base commander whom he says is a good friend.

Apart from his ’traffic’ job, Onjwelo is a Juakali artisan.

He melts tar from used drums that is transported to Nairobi to manufacture shoe polish and other products while the used drums are burnt, straightened and used to make boxes for school children.