By Amoto Ndiewo
The family of Dr. David Matolo, a pastor of Redeemed Church is in mourning. The reverend pastor who criticized Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for transferring non-local teachers after suspected al shabaab militants targeted them is dead.
According to the Redeemed Church’s Communication Representative; Jeremy Montage, the pastor died of breathing related problems at Garissa County Teaching and Referral Hospital.
“He woke up at 5 am for morning prayers, and trouble begun when he returned home, he told his wife that he was experiencing chest pains,’’ said Montage who added that the wife called a church member who drove him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
When suspected militants wreaked havoc on schools, targeting non-local teachers, the reverend argued that given the poor state of education standards in the region, the TSC had no moral responsibility to transfer the teachers. As much as he was sorrowful about the deaths he was quoted saying: “The TSC’s response was reactionary and misplaced, two wrongs do not make a right. How can the TSC transfer non-local teacher leaving north-eastern with a huge teacher shortage thus making innocent children suffer.
Similar sentiments were shared by Garissa Township MP who Dr. Reverend Matolo had close relationship with. The MP Aden Duale, a confidant of the pastor and UDA supremo Dr. William Ruto sent their condolences to the family. Duale said the demise was untimely.
On Wednesday last week, the duo hosted the Deputy President in Garissa for a breakfast meeting with some other Garissa clergy.
Since the frothy relationship between the president and his deputy emerged, Matolo has been consistent and been on the forefront of urging president Uhuru to mend fences with his deputy.
In October 2020 Dr Matolo led the Garissa County Dialogue conference (FCDC), arguing that service delivery in the country depended on good working relationship between the president and his deputy.
“We wish to remind the president and the DP that the people of Kenya elected them as a unit. These continued political activities have jeopardised the quest for better service delivery to Kenyans. We call upon them (Uhuru and Ruto) to mend fences and work together for the sake of Kenyans,’’ read the statement in part.
Matolo was a former postal manager before joining the clergy in Garissa. Although he was close to the Garissa Township MP, their relationship could not allow him build a church in Garissa. Before his demise, he built a church in Mororo, Tana River County where he was also building his residential home. This is because building a church and a home in Garissa is a tall order for non-locals.
His body has been moved to a funeral home that has not yet been disclosed to the public as preparation for his burial in Gem, Siaya County waits.
