2017 at 10Am Presiding Minister Rev Dr. Matthews Mwalwa
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CHURCH FUNERAL SERVICE PROGRAM A.I.C. MILIMANI, NAIROBI TUESDAY JULY 18TH, 2017 AT 10AM PRESIDING MINISTER REV DR. MATTHEWS MWALWA Processional Hymn Opening Prayer Remarks by Dr. Chris K Kiptoo, Principal Secretary, State Department for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Hymn Readings 2 Corinthians 4: 16-18 2 Timothy 4:6-7 Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 Eulogy Esther Koimett Hymn Word of Encouragement Hymn Tributes Mrs Hannie Biwott Children Grandchildren Friends and colleagues Government Political Leaders Prayer for the Family Vote of Thanks Titus Biwott Announcements Mark Chirchir Closing Prayer Benediction FUNERAL SERVICE PROGRAM MARIA SOTI GIRLS' CENTRE, KAPTARAKWA THURSDAY JULY 20™ 2017 FROM 10AM PRESIDING MINISTER BISHOP DR. SILAS YEGO Processional Hymn Viewing of the Body Opening Prayer Hymn Readings 2 Corinthians 4: 16-18 2 Timothy 4: 6 - 7 Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 Eulogy Esther Koimett Hymn Word of Encouragement Hymn Tributes Mrs Hannie Biwott Children Grandchildren Friends and colleagues Government Political Leaders Prayer for the Family Vote of Thanks Titus Biwott Announcements Mark Chirchir Closing Prayer Benediction Family proceeds for final burial rites at the graveside For directions to the Funeral please input the following coordinates in maps.google.com N 00 30 03.32 E 035 30 53.08. Ensure that location service on you device is on to allow for directions. SCRIPTURES 2 Corinthians 4: 16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Timothy 4: 6-7 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Ecclesiastis 3:1-4 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be bom and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. EULOGY HON. KIPYATOR NICHOLAS KIPRONO BIWOTT, EGH STATESMAN, PATRIOT AND PHILANTHROPIST 1940 - 2017 We gather here today as family, friends and admirers of Kipyator Nicholas Kiprono Biwott, to mourn his passing but above all to celebrate his life and to give thanks for it. We have come to remember and honour him, and to praise a remarkable man - a statesman, politician and a businessman - who gave life-long service to his country and to his community, and to cherish him as a husband, father, grand-father, great-grandfather, brother, cousin, uncle, a generous friend, and ever-wise counsellor. Nicholas Biwott was born in Chebior village, Keiyo District, 77 years ago. By the time of his passing he had been a civil servant; a Member of Parliament for 28 years; held office at the highest levels of government, working with three of Kenya's presidents; and built up numerous successful businesses employing thousands of people. Throughout his life Biwott was an achiever, a man who got things done. The young Nicholas Biwott was greatly inspired and encouraged by his mother, Maria Soti. It was she who impressed upon him the importance of kindness. I remember dad recounting a memory from his childhood, how at the start of the school term, when many children streamed past their homestead, tired after a long journey on the way to school; his mother would bring them into their home to sleep, be fed and refreshed before continuing on their way. And remarkably for those times, because we are talking about the 1940's, our grandmother imbued in him the need, regardless of background, for both boys and girls to be treated equally. It was an idea that stayed with him for the rest of his life. He himself achieved excellence in education, gaining a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Economic and Political Science and a Diploma in Public Administration. As he was the first African student to arrive for studies in Australia, he was greeted by a delegation of Malaysian students. One day he told us: "On arrival at the airport in Australia, I was greeted by The Asian Student Association in a special van, expecting an extra-tall, big muscled African man, and were surprised at the 5 foot 4 person in front of them". This self-deprecating humour was always present with him. As a teenager our dad worked alongside his father Cheserem, an industrious and entrepreneurial man, who became a successful fruit and vegetable trader in Eldoret. From him, Biwott learned about running and expanding a business, showing that great acumen for which he was later famous. BUSINESSMAN By the late 1960s Biwott got his own start by forming ABC Foods selling food and animal feed products. In 1969, aged 29, he purchased the Eldoret Town International Harvester dealership and purchased Kipsinende, his dairy farm in the same year. In 1972 he started an import-export business; in 1974 he purchased two wheat farms; and in 1977 he purchased a local airline operator, now known as Air Kenya and continued to start and grow businesses until his death. JAMIN NETANYAHU PUBLIC SERVANT But a man of Biwott's great talent, energy and foresight had more to do, and more to give to his country. After leaving school in 1959, he worked as a journalist at the Department of Information in Eldoret, after which he published the Kalenjin Monthly newsletter with Kendagor Bett. Upon returning from Australia, he re-entered public service as a District Officer in Nkubu, South Imenti Division of Meru in 1964. And there started his lifelong great love for the Meru people. It was good training for the life he was to lead but it was also something to which Biwott was naturally suited, for he came to know every household in Nkubu and got to know and understand the personalities of the many people he dealt with. As a young District Officer, he was involved in the resettlement of previously European-owned land through the 'Land Transfer' programme and played a central role in rehabilitating and resettling the Mau Mau. Senator Kiraitu Murungi's dad was one of them. In 1968, Biwott returned to public service after completing his higher education and worked as the Personal Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture Bruce Mckenzie, helping to guide Kenya's early policy for Agriculture. He also participated in the development of ports, railways and the East African Airways. As Senior Secretary to the Treasury (1970-1972) he was instrumental in the establishment of the French School in Nairobi, now the Lycee Denis Diderot; the French Cultural Centre, with the Alliance Francaise; and the German Frederick Ebert Stiffung Foundation with the Goethe Institut. As Senior Secretary, he started the foreign aid department, later called, external resources department. ! As Under Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs (1974-1978) Biwott worked with the Organisation of African Unity promoting the 'good neighbourliness' policy with the countries bordering Kenya. And so it was that in 1979, Biwott became Member of Parliament for Keiyo-Marakwet and later for Keiyo South constituency. In all, he served 28 years as a Member of Parliament. For Biwott it was perhaps the part of his life for which he felt the greatest pride, for he had a great love for his local community and he never tired helping and representing them. In fact, whether in Nairobi or returning from international travel, he would always make time to go to his constituency every weekend. At the same time, he was constantly inspired by the challenges of government office, he served in 8 Ministries, 5 of which he was the Cabinet Minister: - As Minister of State in the Office of the President (1979-1982), Nicholas Biwott was instrumental in what he regarded as one of his greatest achievements, the establishment of the Kenya Medical Research Institute to carry out health science research in Kenya, work which KEMRI continues to this day. - In 1982, as Minister of Regional Development, Science and Technology, he created the Lake Basin and the Kerio Valley Development Authorities. - From September 1983 to January 1991, as Minister of Energy, he was driven to aid in establishing the National Oil Corporation; building storage facilities and pipelines from Mombasa to Nairobi CH^\R!\ and onto Eldoret and Kisumu. He oversaw major advances in improving Kenya's electricity supply including the Masinga Multi Purpose Dam, the Kiambere Hydro Electric Dam and the Turkwel Hydro Electric Multi Purpose Dam, which added 106MW to the National grid. This is to-date, the most reliable hyrdo-power station in Kenya. - As Minister of East African and Regional Co-operation in 1997, he played a key role in co-ordinating the Common Market for East Africa - COMESA, becoming its chairman and chairman of the East Africa Council of Ministers. - As Minister of Trade & Industry, Tourism and, East African Cooperation (1999-2002) he established the Small Medium Trade Trust Fund with the European Union. He introduced an Intellectual Property Bill which was passed as an Act, accomplished a free trade area with COMESA, and established the Africa Trade Insurance Agency to provide cover for foreign investments against political risk. He was praised as "The best Minister of Tourism in 25 years" and "The hardest working Minister of Tourism Kenya had ever had".