The other side of the versatile, private don

The late Prof William R. Ochieng (William Ochieng) during an interview with Saturday Nation in Kisumu. PHOTO | JACOB OWITI | FILE

What you need to know:

  • Readers like to be cajoled into reading further. Ochieng’s works appeared not to bear this characteristic. He often began his writings with strong opinions only to explain them afterwards.
  • The history don read virtually everything, from Mills and Boon, through the gutter press, to fairy tales. He also did not lend any of his books. After all, he said, few people read the books they carry around.

My knowledge of Prof William Robert Ochieng’ is modest, having known him only since 1992 as Principal of Maseno University College, as PS in the Office of the President, as a radical scholar, and for the last 10 years as his son-in-law.

I will focus on my interaction with him in the past 10 years.

Being a linguist, it would be needless to pretend I read much of his historical researches. What I remember from the few passages I was able to skim is that he had a way with words, though I found him a little too straight-writing for the liking of many readers.

Readers like to be cajoled into reading further. Ochieng’s works appeared not to bear this characteristic. He often began his writings with strong opinions only to explain them afterwards.

Ochieng’ was occasionally unpleasantly proud. He used the adjectives “silly”, “fool”, “stupid” and “idiot” rather freely. He did not like to be belittled. He hero-worshipped no one and told many off. He did not like to be placed in a position that made him look in need of help. I think he was arrogant.

He was a poor participant in public discourse. He would rarely agree or disagree in public. He would not be drawn into an argument. During heated debates, he would merely shift his gaze from one speaker to the next.

Surprisingly, he would sit through such discourse to the end. During one academic board meeting at Maseno University in which there was a heated debate, Prof Francis Ang’awa, then Dean of Faculty, nudged him with the words: “Can we now hear from the good professor?” to which Ochieng’ responded: “Let’s pray”. And so the meeting ended.

Ochieng’ was able to read and write all the time because he was an extremely private person. He literally lived in his bedroom in which he kept a huge library. Only a fraction of these address the subject of history.

CLASSICAL MUSIC

The history don read virtually everything, from Mills and Boon, through the gutter press, to fairy tales. He also did not lend any of his books. After all, he said, few people read the books they carry around.

His taste of music was as eclectic. He would listen to classical music, country, zilizopendwa, Franco, and guess what? Rap as well. Half of Ochieng’s spacious house at Little Rock, Kajulu, was his bedroom. Perhaps this is what made it possible for him to observe a very strict siesta routine. He was also blessed with a family that granted this space.

At the bar, Ochieng’ enjoyed his White Cap with friends. I do not remember his drinking extending into the evening. He did not like people drinking on and on. He once told me that ceaseless drinking leads to dementia. People, he argued, should only drink to socialise, to listen to others, and to catch the pulse of what is going on around.

About marriage, he had interesting ideas. He said it is fine if it works for the couple but that it is a stupid thing to carry on with if it is not working. He never had much regard for the couple that pretends to do “things together”. He said individuals in a marriage must pursue their dreams. They must explore their potential to the full, not as couples, but as people who came into this world with a purpose.

Towards the end of his life, Ochieng’ took to writing booklets, usually no more than 50 pages. While reading them, I came to learn three strong messages: 1. That we all have opinions on a range of subjects every day, but we are not authors because we do not write them down, 2. That all the happenings around us form the subject of history (so history is not the happening of antiquity), 3. And most importantly, that one can actually write without quoting others.

Dr Obiero is the chair, Department of Linguistics, Languages and Literature, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University, Bondo ([email protected])