Patricia Atieno, the widow of the late ex-minister Dalmas Otieno, stole the show at his requiem mass with a candid, humorous recollection of life as the wife of a man whose charm often attracted women’s attention.

In a revelation that left mourners in stitches, she disclosed how she ended up sharing a roof with his second wife, Dorothy, for more than 14 years.

“I lived with Dorothy ever since she got married to my husband; for 14 years under one roof. I gave them a room until she got her twins. And she did not move out, she still lives with me,” she said.

“So many people challenged me about it. I said, I love my husband and I respect him. I refused, I didn’t want him to park his car in Rongo where Dorothy had a rented house. I told my husband, bring that woman home, we have a big house and I am going to give her a room,” she added to loud claps from the congregation.

Atieno also spoke about how her late husband’s charm often drew admiring glances from women.

“I married Dalmas; a very handsome man. He gave me problems with women. No woman could pass without turning their head and looking at him. But I played it cool because I am a born-again Christian. I do not have jealousy,” she said, sending the mourners into laughter.

Despite the challenges, she remembered their love story fondly. 

The duo married in August 1965, before which they were both students at Rapogi. 

He was the boys’ head prefect and she the girls’ head prefect, a pairing that seemingly set the stage for a lifelong bond.

“That time I was very beautiful. You know with Luos, a woman with a gap between her teeth is considered the most beautiful woman. When we were leading the rest of the students to church, he would allow me to go first and I would wonder; who is this tall handsome guy?” she recalled warmly.

“He put out instructions to the girls who were close to me, that I should not be seen talking to other men. Whatever I was doing, they were to report to him. But we loved each other so well,” she added with a smile.

The requiem mass, attended by leaders including PLP party leader Martha Karua, Migori governor Ochilo Ayako, and former Nairobi governor Evans Kidero, was as much a celebration of life as it was a farewell to a seasoned statesman.

Born in Kangeso village, Rongo, Migori County, in 1945, Dalmas Otieno left behind a storied legacy that mirrored Kenya’s transition from the one-party era to multi-party politics.

He was first elected as Rongo MP in 1988 on a KANU ticket. Before entering politics, he studied at Strathmore School and Makerere University, later rising to become Chairman and Director of Kenya Commercial Bank.

Otieno went on to serve in several ministerial positions between 1988 and 1996, including Industrialisation, Labour & Human Resource Development, and Transport. 

After making a political comeback in 2007 on the ODM ticket, he was appointed Minister of State for Public Service in the 2008 Grand Coalition Government.

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As a reform-minded leader, Otieno introduced significant changes, such as raising the civil service retirement age and championing efficiency in public service.

In later years, he was remembered for his insistence on principle over political expediency, even attempting to establish a new political organization in South Nyanza, although it was unsuccessful.

Dalmas Otieno is remembered both as a man of irresistible charm who captured hearts easily and as a thoughtful statesman whose legacy will live on.