The family of a 13-year-old boy Jacob Kavai, on Thursday, March 23, pleaded for financial help to give him a befitting send-off.
Speaking to the media, his uncle John Kavai confirmed that Jacob died on March 22 while receiving treatment at a hospital in Chavakali.
The teenager had been taken ill and was diagnosed with pneumonia, a disease he battled since the beginning of the year.
Kavai moved a crowd after he proclaimed that Azimio leader Raila Odinga would be Kenya's fifth president, during a rally in Chavakali in Western Kenya.
"I do not have the money to clear the mortuary bill but I am trying to source money so that we can bury him by March 31. We call on any well-wishers to chip in and help us," the uncle stated.
Kavai revealed that the deceased opted to drop out of school before falling sick. Known for his mimicry of Odinga, he would entertain Kenyans in neighbouring towns to fend for his family.
"He went around preaching and entertaining crowds and brought home whatever he collected to his father who suffered a stroke," he stated.
His father was overwhelmed with grief as his sibling recounted how his son sacrificed his education to help him.
Kavai made headlines in February 2022 after he endorsed Odinga's presidential bid. During the rally, he appealed to former Mombasa governor, Hassan Joho, for financial aid.
"I am broke, please give me something. Just assist me with at least Ksh10,000 because, at home, I am the breadwinner," Nester stated to the crowd's bemusement.
His uncle described him as a humble and disobedient boy who took the responsibility of caring for his sibling after his mother's death.
The late Jacob had a talent for public speaking. Matched with his strong Christian faith, he took to the streets to preach the gospel and pray for members of the public.
He was to sit his Grade Six Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) examination in 2023.
