One of Singer Akothee’s Little-known Historical Achievements that Will Outlive Her Popularity

Singer Esther Akoth Okeyo popularly known as Akothee has crafted a brand for herself through wild clout-chasing stunts that sometimes saw her strip down to bare essentials. Few however know that she is the brains behind an airport in Migori, her home county. Here’s the story as she narrates it.

“Five years ago, I embarked on a dream that finally came to fruition in 2023. Today, I want to take a moment to celebrate Esther Akoth Kokeyo, Brand Akothee, a name that has connected Migori County to the rest of the world.

After building my retirement home in Migori, I quickly realized how challenging it was to get home. Whether it was driving from Kisumu airport or making the long drive from Nairobi, it was always a struggle. At the time, I was the brand ambassador for Silverstone Air, where we had successfully launched 12 destinations in two years, with Homa Bay being the last. I remember how convenient it was to land in Homa Bay and be home within 20 minutes. This sparked an idea, and I wondered, Does Migori have an airstrip?

A quick Google search confirmed that it did. Excited, I turned to Nelly and said, “I want to meet with the government of Migori County. I want to understand what’s available and what we need to improve to make life easier for Migorians.” So, we made a visit to Governor Obado’s office, even amidst the Sharon scandal, which caused quite a stir. Some people insulted me, accusing me of chasing clout and making it seem like I was part of the scandal. But I had a dream.

I presented my proposal to Governor Obado and his team, and they confirmed that while Migori did have an airstrip, it could only accommodate small aircraft and required significant upgrades. The runway needed to be extended and renovated. I passionately pushed for the project and, though it was difficult to work with some of the people in government, I left the project in their hands. Eventually, the airstrip was extended and renovated. For that, I congratulate Governor Obado and his team.

However, our project to develop Thimlich Ohinga never materialized. Governor Obado passed me on to his team, but as usual, someone took my proposal, and it died on arrival. Thimlich Ohinga could have been a goldmine, providing jobs and feeding hundreds of families. Yet, I stopped following up, as the process drained my energy. I went back to focusing on my businesses because, at some point, I felt like I posed a threat.

Still, the memories of what we achieved with the airstrip will always remain, and I hold on to the belief that one day, the untapped potential of Migori, including Thimlich Ohinga, will be fully realized.”

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