Dan Okwiri
Penning my journal.
Turn back the clock, will tell you a true life sob story of yesteryears. Once upon a time in the late 70s’, there was a businessman in Ugenya who had fabled wealth. The bloke was my late dad’s chum, & owned a hotel, over holidays we would go visit for the eats.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, he had toiled hard in his life. Opened up to business when few in the Luo community had cheesed into it. As he mellowed over the years, he was getting a little tired of his worldly journey, his curtains were soon to be drawn.
Since he had a large family he thought it wise to liquidate his property, it would be easier to divide cash rather than hard assets.
He had run a tight ship, silently sold his assets, called his 4 wives to announce his intention. To each of them, deposited a hefty sum of money according to the comfort each had given him.
The businessman had a frosty relationship with his first wife, & their life had been nothing but turmoil. In narrow tunnel vision, & to rock the boat, he said that she will inherit only half of what the rest got!
Troubled waters, the eldest son of the first wife was in deep grief, bitter that his mother didn’t receive equal share. The dad owned a wonderful hotel at the time. The businessman sold his hotel to a politician for a hefty sum & had been given a 3-month grace period to enjoy the proceeds & then hand it over.
Turns up like a bad penny, the son confronted the dad as he lunched in the hotel. Tis’ an ill wind, began hurling expletives expressing his dissatisfaction at the disdain that their house shortchanged.
The businessman had always carried a knife cinched in his waist. On hearing his son’s rebuke, in towering rage drew it, & without batting an eye, plunged it into his son’s heart stabbing him 6 times. The fury of the stabs left the boy dead, blood oozing in the hotel dining room to the horror of the hotel guests.
Realizing the gravity of what he had done, fled to neighbouring Uganda to escape the consequences. Unfortunately, the wrath of God, even in his refuge had no peace. Under a cloud his son’s spirit followed him there, in torment, he kept seeing & hearing demons taunting & had no sleep.
Enough was enough, after one month in Uganda, he returned to Siaya county on his own volition & surrendered himself to the police. He would attend the funeral of his son in handcuffs whilst under remand. The court handed him a life sentence. Truth be said, he had given his children a good education, but they wanted his wealth too.
The demons continued to haunt him in prison, & became completely deranged. Farewell thee, after 2 years in the geezers, he died in a cell, the Luo community lost one of its greatest businessmen.
The hotel he sold today is a pale shadow of itself. Haunted, even under new ownership, it is not what it used to be. The children of the businessman have done well but to date, rivalry at the home still persists.
My fellow brothers, if you choose to have more than one wife, divide your estate equally to each house. Never ignore your first wife, she is your capstone. Even if you hate one of your wives cause she has been unkind to you, remember she is still a mother to your children.
If you choose to fight the mother, her children will fight you on her behalf. These battles will stem on for generations, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. Yada, yada, yada…
My love and light to you all..
#OkwiriMyJournalMyThoughtsMyWalk…
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