By Anderson Ojwang
The arguably Kenya’s giant in terms of his height, size and performance as administrators in education, sports, and leadership, Mr. Paul Agali Otula is dead.
Otula, the country’s towering giant, bowed out, after what family suspects to be as a result of cardiac arrest.
Otula was one of the country’s finest education and sports administrators, former Kenya International basketball player, and a respected author.
Otula was a man with a golden hand and whatever he touched glowed and turned into gold.
Success followed Otula everywhere he went, from classroom, to the office and into the gym, where he transformed his subjects into the country’s finest products.
Otula was a man of the first, honors, accolades and awards became part of his world.
Otula, the educationist, administrator and author, was a believer in performance with his driving philosophy of nurturing an all-round individual.
He was a strong believer in excellent performance, ability and honesty, the driving principles that shaped his administration and leadership.
From a classroom as an English and Literature teacher, in Mbita High School, he was transferred to Mangu High school, where he rose to become the Chief Principal, and was later transferred to Maseno school.
From Maseno school, Otula briefly became the Chief Principal of Sunshine Secondary School.
In his career as a teacher and administrator, Otula transformed Mangu High school, Maseno School and Sunshine Secondary School to be top schools in the country.
From school management, Otula was one of the best sports administrators and the longest serving chairman of Kenya Basketball Federation(KBF).
He was a member of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and led Kenya’s Olympic team to France in 2024.
He had a declared interest for the seat of Deputy Treasurer in the coming NOC election.
Otula transformed the game and took the country to the continental limelight where Kenya’s National Basketball teams are ranked highly.
From a once empty basketball gym, Otula made basketball to be a loved sport and currently, the gym is filled to the brim.
Otula also oversaw the actualization of a new KBF constitution that is in tandem with the Sports Act as required by the constitution.
The news of Otula’s death shook the country from all quarters, within the teaching fraternity, sports, former students, colleagues, politicians, friends and relatives.
Former chairman of Maseno School alumni and board, member during his tenure Mr. Charles Gitau described Otula as an honest and sincere person who meant well for the students and the country.
“Otula was such a resource to be close to.
He had unique management and leadership skills.
He turned Maseno school around to be an academic giant once again,” he said.
Gitau said the country had lost a person who had no boundary, a nationalist and was a principled person.
Former Maseno school Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) chairman during Otula’s tenure, Prof James Obondi Otieno described him as an icon who sacrificed all for the success of his students.
Otieno said Otula stirred a positive competition in Schools in Western Kenya and his presence in the region had a positive impact on the general performance in the region.
“I spoke to Mwalimu Otula in the evening before he died the next day.
We shared on very important engagements that we had envisaged for Nyanza.
He was so passionate about education and sports that in all his talks, rotated around that,” he said
Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Performance Contracting Mr. Eliud Owalo wrote “It’s with deep sorrow that I have learnt of the sudden death of long-serving Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Chairman Paul Otula.
Otula had a chequered career as a teacher of no mean repute;Principal of both Mangu High School and Maseno School; and an icon in basketball circles.
I have over the past decade worked closely with the late Otula in supporting various Basketball initiatives through the Eliud Owalo Foundation.
At this moment of grief, I convey my condolences to his family, relatives, and friends plus both the teaching and basketball fraternity in Kenya.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
An alumni Toni Simba wrote on Maseno alumni X handle “Ask Maseno School. Mangu, or Sunshine, Paul A Otula was a legend.
You don’t get them like him anymore.
He once made me run five laps around Maseno rugby pitch for being late to basketball practice, a fond memory from 2015, form 1”.
Another alumnus wrote “A good man has rested.
Mr. Paul Otula, former principal of Maseno school, has left behind a legacy of excellence in education.
Even those who never interacted with him were inspired by his dedication to academic excellence.
Mwalimu positively impacted many lives.”
Former colleague, Duncan Owiye said Otula taught them the virtue of honesty, discipline, hard work and service to community.
“Otula frowned against short-cuts, he would never accept that.
He changed the Maseno school staff room, and we are what we are because of Otula,” he said.
Another colleague Mr.Mangla Okanda described Otula as father to teachers, students and the subordinates.
“Otula gave his all.
He was an incorruptible person.
He was simple but very firm and decisive.
He was liked by students and the staff.
He has left a legacy that will tell his story for years,” he said.
A friend and strategist Mr. Robert Ogindo said Otula supported education activities in all schools in Karachuonyo and his influence impacted positively in the region.
“Otula supported our education activities and schools benefited immensely.
He mentored several teachers in sports.
He is the MP Karachuonyo people never had,” he said.
