Journalist mourns school principal who died soon after retirement

As parents, teachers, students and friends prepare for a grand send-off for retired Principal Lawrence Makori, who died recently, shortly after retirement, one man is gathering himself to come to terms with it. He walked with him, with Makori as his hero. He did not die with him physically, but he believed in his principles. That man is this writer.

Now he understands what those words really meant. He walked with him in life. And now, hardly a month after his colourful retirement, he is walking with him in death.

It is a paradox. A painful paradox.

They had just celebrated him. They had just crowned him with ribbons. They had just handed him a walking stick and a hat of honour. They had just escorted him home to Kabosi with song and ululation. They had just said, "God did it."

And now, they are preparing to bury him on November 22, 2026.

How could a man retire so well, and die so soon? How could joy turn to mourning in a few weeks? How could the same hands that cut the retirement cake now prepare a grave?

That is life. That is why timing matters. The only time you have is now.

God gave them the wisdom to honour Makori while he was still alive. They did not wait for his funeral to call him a hero. They told him to his face. He heard it. He smiled. He said, "God did it." That is their comfort now. He did not die without knowing he was loved.

He was Lawrence Ntabo Makori. He was not just a principal. He was a father, a teacher, a mentor, a builder of schools and a builder of men.

He walked for 37 years, not on the road, but in a teaching career that called for practicals and exactness. He taught Mathematics and Chemistry with discipline, patience and truth. He rose from classroom teacher to Head of Department to a firm and focused Principal.

He left his mark everywhere he went. He taught and headed Nyakorere Secondary School. He taught and headed Riokindo National School. He taught and headed Kenyenya. He taught and headed Nyataro SDA. He taught and headed St Andrews Nyabigege Secondary School in Nyamira County, his last station.

In every school, he left behind children who became teachers, doctors, nurses, engineers, pastors, parents and leaders. In every school, he left behind teachers who learned discipline from him. In every school, he left behind parents who trusted him with their children.

He believed in cooperation, trust and harmony between teachers, students and parents. At Kenyenya, he and his deputy Joel Omagwa used part of their own salaries to support the school. The school rose from a mean score of 4.5 in 2022 to 6.8 in 2024. In 2023, 60 out of 140 candidates scored C+ and above and joined university.

He was honoured on that Friday at Simba Hill Hotel in Kisii. Family, colleagues, alumni, church elders and education stakeholders gathered to celebrate him. His wife, Linet Makori, sat beside him, admiring him, as he was decorated with ribbons like a bridegroom. A colourful procession escorted him home to Kabosi in Nyaribari Chache. Elders crowned him with a hat and gave him a walking stick.

They thought they were giving him rest. They did not know they were giving him a farewell.

Now that he is dead, he must be buried as a hero. Not as an ordinary man. As a hero from all the schools he taught and headed.

Let Nyakorere come. Let Riokindo National come. Let Kenyenya come. Let Nyataro come. Let Nyabigege come. Let all his students, all his teachers, all his parents, all his churches come. Let them stand together on November 22, 2026, and say, here lies a man who gave his life to education. The academic hero has fallen!

Heroes do not always wear uniforms. Some wear dust on their shoes from walking from class to class, chalk on their hands, and love for children in their hearts. He was such a hero.

So let us not waste time. Let us love now. Let us forgive now. Let us thank now. Let us honour now. Tomorrow is not promised. Yesterday is gone. The only time you have is now.

I do not mourn you but celebrate you as my professional mentor, academic and spiritual hero.

Fare thee well, my Principal.