A wave of sorrow swept through Ayweyo village in Nyando Sub County as mourners gathered Friday afternoon to bid a heartbreaking farewell to Hope Francis Miyawa, the son of veteran KBC journalist Philip Miyawa. The 11-year-old, Grade Seven pupil at Goldfields Academy in Migori, lost his battle with a complex congenital heart condition, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and unwavering faith.
Francis’ journey was marked by courage, enduring multiple surgeries, including a recent life-saving procedure in India that briefly rekindled his family’s hope. His mother, Carol Miyawa, described him as an intelligent, kind-hearted child whose deep spirituality left an indelible mark on all who knew him.
“A deeply spiritual child, Francis was a devoted member of the brigade at ACK St. John The Evangelist Church in Migori. His faith and kindness inspired both peers and elders,” she recalled.
His father, Philip Miyawa, remembered him as an all-rounded and disciplined sportsman, passionately engaging in skating, chess, and basketball while actively participating in scouting.
“The curiosity and enthusiasm he displayed extended beyond the classroom. He embraced discipline and determination in all his pursuits,” Mr. Miyawa eulogized.
Journalists from Nyanza and Nairobi, county officials from Migori and Kisumu, devoted radio listeners, and grief-stricken family members openly wept as they paid their last respects. The young soul was laid to rest in his ancestral home in Ayweyo, leaving behind an emptiness that words could scarcely fill.
