Okal Tako Poem by Teacher Kevin

STORY OF OKAL TAKO
OKAL TAKO, a glutton, hailed from ASEMBO. My grandmother {JULIANA NYASAGE}sat me down to tell me a story about him {OKAL TAKO}. She told me that, In one occasion, OKAL TAKO had to pay a courtesy call to his in-laws who resided in RUSINGA ISLAND. Therefore, together with some of his friends and relatives, they set off for a journey.
The journey was long and exhausting since they had to paddle canoes to the Island. On arrival at the Island, they were accorded a warm welcome. They feed and drunk to their fill. However, as much as their tummies were full, OKAL TAKO noted that there was still some food left.
When the sun started to go down, the visitors had to start their long journey back home. Poor OKAL wasn't satisfied, he wanted to stay longer and eat more since there was more. As the journey commenced, he deliberately forgot his leather bag under his seat and once they were all seated in a canoe ready to depart, OKAL started crying, 'Wah! I have left my leather bag under my seat, ' 'I inherited it from my grandfather, it can't remain there.' He continued lamenting.
His people tried to convince him citing that it was getting late and they had to get to KAMITO (ASEMBO BAY) before tides. These pleas fell on deaf ears because OKAL was determined to go back and fetch his leather bag. Well, he was finally released when his people were left with no option but they didn't wait for him. OKAL rushed back to his in-laws as his friends got into the canoe and rowed away.
OKAL was so pleased with himself, he whistled back to his in-laws and smiled at the thought of eating more food overnight since it was evident he wouldn't make it back home same evening. Darkness was creeping, his in-laws were very remorseful when they learnt whatever had befell their guest. They then organized a room for him to spend the night and food was brought.
'DANI' told me that OKAL ate the food that night too much that he would not stand up to stretch his own body, leave alone going to bed on his own. He requested one of his in-laws to carry and sit him by the bed side. While at the bed side, he again whispered another request to his in-laws, 'Dhira agora epien'. That night OKAL slept like a dead man and never woke up until the following morning when he remembered he had a journey to make.
The following morning he got up and embarked on his journey. He got to the shore and rowed away into deep waters happily. However, his happiness was Short lived. There was a storm in the lake, the storm hit his boat and his boat capsized. OKAL died and the news of his death reached his homeland after his friends had long reached home sound and safe. Okal's body was swept a shore by the tides and was buried and mourned according to the luo Customs but the saying remains, ' Ich lach nonego OKAL TAKO'