Moving testimonies and tears marked Saturday's send-off of Katharine Alethea, a pioneer and foremost Agriculture teacher in Kitui county.
Katharine, who was born in Hartford, Britain, 62 years ago, arrived in Kenya in the early 1980s. She had touched many lives in her new home by the time she died on March 3, 2019.
The mother of two arrived in the country as a volunteer under the Volunteer Services Overseas (VSO) programme.
The testimonies of her family members, relatives, neighbours and her former students were passionate.
The service was held at Muunguu Secondary School in Waita ward on Saturday. Mourners celebrated the pioneer Agriculture teacher. Agriculture became an examinable subject at Matinyani Boys Secondary School in 1984.
She was described as selfless, humane, honest, devoted and a diligent servant of the people. Alethea graduated with a bachelor of Agriculture from the University of Reading before coming to Kenya.
She married Roland Kamotho, a teacher colleague in 1987.
HONOUR
Julius Mutukaa, who represented Governor Charity Ngilu, said it was imperative to posthumously honour Alethea by naming a dormitory at Waita Secondary School, her first teaching post, after her.
“The political leadership in Kitui including the county government under Charity Ngilu should pool resources and honour Alethea, a true heroin by setting up a library at Waita Secondary School in her memory and honour,” Mutukaa said.
Waita MCA Ndei Mukala and parliamentary seat loser Joseph Mutemi eulogised Alethea as a meek and rare public servant.
Mutemi said, “It would be futile and foolhardy if we praised our departed sister and fail to emulate the good things she did to humanity.”
