Hundreds of mourners attended the burial of a pioneer Kenyan educationist Francis Katua Maluki. The educationist was laid to rest at his Kyanzou Village home in Mulango Location, Katulani Sub-county, Kitui County on Saturday, March 16, 2024.
Those in attendance included the Governor Julius Makau Malombe, Kitui Central Constituency MP Dr Benson Makali Mulu and Mulango, MCA Peter Mwanza.
The educationist died on Sunday, March 3, 2024, aged 90.
Each one of the speakers at the burial paid a glowing tribute to the late Maluki.
The governor highly lauded him “for using his educational profession to help this county of Kitui and Kenya.”
Dr Malombe assured the county people that he will continue serving them effectively and efficiently as their governor.
He announced that he going to construct a modern gate at the Mulango Girls High School this year.
The governor was accompanied by his County Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Development Minister Rose Mawia Mutuku.
And addressing the mourners, area MP Dr Makali Mulu said: “We have lost as the Kitui Central and Kenya. And that is the position.” The MP praised Katua for being a pioneer educationist in Kenya.
The mourners were also addressed MCA Mwanza, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Kitui County Executive Secretary Kioko Mutia and former Education Ministry Assistant Director Kilonzo Musilu among others.
Francis Katua Maluki was born on December 27, 1934 in Kitui District.
He joined the Mulango Elementary School in 1943 and studied up to 1948 when he sat for the Common Entrance Examination (CEE) and passed with distinction.
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In 1949 he joined the Kitui Intermediate School and did the Kenya African Preliminary Education (KAPE) national examination where he topped his class and was admitted at the prestigious Alliance Boys High in 1952.
He wrote Cambridge School Certificate (CSC) examination in 1955 where he obtained the Division One. He was admitted for further studies at the prestigious Makerere University College in Uganda He studied geography, history and English at the university graduating in 1960.
Later during his services at the Education Ministry he obtained a scholarship from the Ford Foundation to study General Administration and Programmes at the Trenton University in the United States.
Afterwards, he obtained another scholarship from the British Council to study at the Bristol University in the United Kingdom. After his high school studies at the Alliance and before his admission to the college, he taught at the Mulango Primary School.
He started his professional career as an English language and literature teacher at the Friends School Kamusinga in Bungoma District in 1960.
He was then transferred later during the same year to the Kitui High where he taught many of the young boys who became prominent leaders and administrators after the Kenya’s independence.
He then worked as the Education Officer (EO) at the ministry’s Kitui District Headquarters in 1962 to 1964.Then later at the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) in 1965 to 1977 rising to the position of the Deputy Chief Examinations Officer.
He worked as the Machakos District Education Officer (DEO) in 1977 to 1979. In 1980 to 1982 he worked as the Kenya School Equipment Scheme (KSES) Director/Head. He retired from the Kenya’s civil service in 1989.
He facilitated the construction of many schools and other education institutions and their facilities and also assisted many young boys and girls from all over the country in their studies.
After retirement and in recognition of his leadership skills and experience, he was contracted by the Government to serve as the Elections Coordinator in charge of the Kitui, Mwingi and Machakos Districts from 1992 to 1997.
He board chairman and member of prominent schools in Kitui County including the Kitui High, the St Angela’s Mutuni Girls Secondary, the Mulango Girls High and the Yumbisye Secondary.
He was also the church elder at the Kitui Township Africa Inland Church (AIC) and later the Kyanzou Africa Inland Church (AIC).
By Boniface Mulu
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