Founder/Former Patron, Christabel Ouko

Christabel Ouko was, until her death in 2017, the founder/patron of the OCI.

Mrs. Ouko was a woman who was not only a pillar and an oasis of calm to her family but a great leader, a friend, a mentor and a visionary.  She always had a bright smile on her face and her laughter was infectious.

Christabel was born in 1942 to the late Leah Odolla and the late Ishmael Odolla, the last born girl in a family of 5 brothers and 2 sisters in the village of Lusi in Asembo, Siaya County.

She attended Chianda Primary School an Anglican Mission School. She later moved to Ngiya girls’ boarding school and was later admitted to Butere Girls for her O-levels. She was admitted to Alliance Girls High in 1964 to study Literature, Geography and History.

After A-levels she worked as a trainee income tax officer with the East African Community. In 1966, she joined the University of Nairobi to study English, French and History. Upon completion, she joined the civil service in the immigration department.

Christabel first met Robert Ouko while she was in Butere through her brother John Okara who was his teacher and friend in Ogada School. He was loving, considerate and supportive of her ambitions. They were very well suited, communicated on par intellectually and shared strong interests in travel, debates and reading books on broad subjects.

She worked after their first-born son Kenneth was born in 1967 until the family moved to Arusha in 1969. Their children came in rapid succession with the births of Susan, Winnie, Lillian, Carol, Andrew, and Charles.

Dr. Ouko’s transition from civil servant to politician was difficult for Mrs. Ouko, but she supported him fully and appreciated his integrity in office. Following the tragedy of her husband’s death in 1990, many marveled at how she coped.  She credits her resilience and resolve to the characteristics she learned from her husband during his political career and her strong faith and reliance on God. She was determined to find positive ways to celebrate his remarkable life and keep his values alive in his community. She has over the past 30 years transformed from being known primarily as the wife of Dr. Robert Ouko, to being a respected community leader in Muhoroni and a successful businesswoman and farmer. She was the chair of the development committee in the Koru AIC church, board member of Koru Girls High School, treasurer of Marrum welfare self-help group, member of Mnara Women Group, and patron of the Ouko Community Initiatives.

She founded a kindergarten near her home and conceived the idea of a community library in memory of her late husband which is currently operational. These two initiatives were the basis of the formation of the Ouko Community Initiatives. These initiatives have birthed other projects such as the newly constructed DROPS primary school on land that she donated and integration of E- learning tools and educational enhancement programs into local schools. She had visions of creating an educational hub for the community that includes a University to fulfill her dream of making a lasting and transformational impact on the community. Her greatest wish was that members of her community would appreciate the power of education and learning in improving their lives just as it did hers. She credits her deep faith in God for giving her the quiet confidence to act fearlessly to accomplish things of lasting value. She will always remain an inspiration to many.