In a heartfelt tribute, Deputy Chief of Staff Eliud Owalo has recounted the pivotal role the late Dalmas Otieno played in shaping his early years at Kenyatta University and beyond, narrating a story that the former minister was an integral part of his personal and professional journey.
Having joined Kenyatta University in 1990, Owalo was already shouldering responsibility beyond his years, paying school fees for his younger brother, who was then a student at Alliance High School.
In 1991, when university tuition fees were introduced in his second year, Owalo faced a dilemma.
“I was proud to be a responsible young man, paying for my brother’s fees, and I could not go back to my parents asking for help again,” Owalo narrated.
Determined to find a solution, Owalo took the bold step of contacting the Ministry of Transport directly.
After successfully speaking with Dalmas Otieno’s secretary and insisting that his matter could not be settled over the phone, he secured a face-to-face appointment with the then-Transport Minister.
Dalmas’ Generosity
When Owalo finally secured an audience with Dalmas Otieno, he explained his issue with sincerity. Dalmas then reached for his briefcase and offered him money to ease the burden.
Owalo, however, declined to accept cash, instead requesting that the funds be directed directly to Kenyatta University.
Impressed by the young man’s discipline, Dalmas immediately wrote a cheque for KSh6,000 in the university’s name.
“That is what enabled me to finish my university without ever going back to my parents.”
Millionaire Eliud Owalo
Dalmas channeled further support into Owalo’s hands — pocket money to help him get by at university.
For a young student in the early 1990s, the allowance was more than enough to cover essentials, and soon Eliud Owalo became known for his generosity on campus.
He often bought food and drinks for his friends, who jokingly christened him “Millionaire.”
“I would buy beer for Eddie and our friends at places like Carnival, Visions, and Bubbles. They thought I was rich. What Eddie didn’t know was that the money I was using to buy him drinks was actually his father’s. The joke stuck.”
Dalmas would later call on Eliud Owalo to prepare strategic plans for his constituency, and the two worked closely together to form the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD).
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Owalo credits Dalmas with instilling a sense of discipline and independence of mind that has defined his career.
“Dalmas always told me: add value wherever you are. Don’t just sit in the room, contribute. That is how he survived in cabinet for so long, and that is the lesson I carried with me into my own service.”
He also added that he counts himself lucky to have come across somebody with a good heart in his lifetime who found joy in helping others and making them happy without expecting anything in return.
“Imagine somebody who way back in 1988 had already come up with a bank and an insurance company. That was the kind of creativity Dalmas brought to the table and had no problem in helping others.”
Dalmas Otieno’s Burial
Former Cabinet Minister and veteran politician Dalmas Otieno passed away on September 7, 2025, at his home in Nairobi.
According to the family, he will be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kangeso village, Rongo, Migori County, on October 2, 2025.
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Relatives confirmed that preparations for the funeral are underway and invited mourners to join them in giving the former minister his final farewell.
Concluding his tribute, Owalo expressed deep gratitude to the Oteno family.
“To the Dalmas Otieno family, I sincerely thank you for granting me unlimited access to your father over the past 34 years. His guidance shaped not only my career but also my life. Dalmas’ generosity, wisdom, and visionary spirit will remain a guiding light for all who knew him.”
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