It is with great sorrows that we announce the death of Peter Akoyo, 21 , who has been a pupil at Mary Rice Centre for the last five years. Peter succumbed to an epileptic seizure on the night of August 8, 2014 at his father’s house in Shillanga village in Kibera slums, Nairobi.
Peter was present at the Centre on Wednesday when we closed for the August holiday; he appeared strong and healthy, with no sign of illness. During the day Peter stayed with the children at the Centre and engaged in the Crazy Olympic Games where he looked very vibrant and happy as he played with pupils, staff and parents.
Peter suffered from epilepsy from birth, and he has been on drugs since then. When he joined the Centre, he used to get drugs from a nearby Health Centre which works closely with the Mary Rice Centre.
Peter was equally embraced and loved by both the pupils and staff who came to nickname him the “Big Brother” since he was the oldest pupil and was always ready to give a helping hand to other pupils who had more special needs than his.
Peter was accepted to join Marianne Vocational Centre for the Physically and Mentally Handicapped which is 50 kilometers from Nairobi.
Peter will be laid to rest in his ancestral home in Kakamega County, western Kenya later this month.
Eternal rest grant unto him oh Lord and may perpetual rest shine upon him. May the soul of Peter Akoyo rest in peace through the mercy of God, Amen.
