‘The best of our Time’: Tribute to Captain Brian Enimai Otwani

2 0

On behalf of friends and family of Captain Brian Enimai Otwani (Tea Bag), I want to thank everyone who was involved in last sendoff of Captain Brian Enimai Otwani of Kenya Defence forces on 13^th January 2023.

I want to convey my appreciation to you, for the support that you gave him on his enlistment, training, commissioning and service to the country. I also thank you for the effort that you made on his behalf to his young family when he was away and perhaps foremost, the encouragement and the strength that you gave him.

To the elite men and women he commanded; both at 20 paratrooper battalion and Long range Surveillance, you were a source of the greatest strength to him to know that there were band of brothers, who were together with him, dedicated to ideals of peace and a safer world.

As a soldier and true to the soldier’s creed, Captain Brian Enimai Otwani remained physically fit, mentally alert and neat at all time. He understood that the country had real enemies and he energetically met the enemies of our country, and defeated them at the battle field. Never did Captain Brian Enimai Otwani, left his comrades fallen in the hands of the enemy.

He understood the nature of his work and environment, well versed with the hazards and dangers of the profession he chose. He used to take great pride in quoting and paraphrasing captain Vikram Batra of India by saying:

I will either come back after raising the Kenyan flag in Victory or returned wrapped in it.

-Captain Brian Otwani

He surely came back wrapped in it with pride, surrender was never his word. He took great pride in the fact that he was an elite and highly trained soldier, an officer and a gentleman, who would fight in land, sea and air, operating behind enemy lines.

In this tribute, we honor Captain Brian Enimai Otwani, and by honouring him, we honour the best in our country; the best in ourselves and the best in our time. He loved this country, with a patriot’s love and paid ultimate price for peace of the nation.

In his heart, Kenya Defence forces officer’s creed was guiding principle; his country comes first, always and every time; the men and women he commanded were dear to him and came second, always and every time; he was willing to sacrifice for the above and his own ease and comfort came last always.

I can see him now soaring above the sky and he would do with his parachute; I can see him sailing with a sailor’s love in a an ocean that he once trained and I can see him navigating the dry land and forests so that we can be safe; recalling great events that took place while he was alive and wishing that his daughter and son will live to be all they can.

ALSO READ: Kenya’s Dream To Qualify for FIFA World Cup 2030.

On behalf of his family, that loved him so deeply, I again express my gratitude on grateful we feel to those who made Capt Otwani’s journey with us, we welcome all circles of friends, those who found so much inspiration in Capt Brian’s life, so much warmth in his friendship and so much pain in his loss.

Captain Brian Enimai Otwani and I had a special bond, at high school we were in the same dormitory and class. After school he insisted that I join him Kenya Military Academy. He gave me his suit that I used for interviews and when I joined him he was my godfather, ensuring that I complete each task given. As an officer, he was a light at the mountain top.

Captain Brian Enimai Otwani Training in Lanet

With his gift of humor and liveliness he brought an atmosphere of vigor to everything he did, with his gift of words, he found a lover, with his gallantry he earned head of state commendation, with his academic prowess, he conquered academic world.

His life was an inspiration and a quest for excellence. In that brief and incomplete journey that was cut short by explosives, he made us believe, and everything is possible. If we are determined and work hard. When he left, a cloud of darkness hanged over us and the pain of his loss will be with us, the rest of our lives.

To his friends, the class he trained with, colleagues at work; in all these ups and down, you were there with him, when there were difficulties, you sustained him. When there were challenges, you stood beside him. When there was joy and happiness, you laughed with him and in period of sorrow, you comforted his family.

The same effort and the same energy and the same dedication that was given to Captain Brian Enimai Otwani, should be given to his young family. If we make that commitment, it will not only be for the benefit of the family, but far more importantly, it will be for the benefit of humanity all over the world. Let’s dedicate ourselves to that and say a prayer to the family and to all who have lost their loved ones in act of violence while defending this country.

I would like to paraphrase Ted Kennedy, a man whose life comforts me when in pain.

My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life; to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it.

Ted Kennedy

Those of us who loved him and who took him to his rest, pray that what he was to us and what he wished for others will someday come to pass. Thank you.

Barry Ipapo

About Post Author

Barry Ipapo

Security professional || Law and Governance Enthusiast || Technologist

[email protected]

https://busianpost.com/

Happy

0 0 %

Sad

1 100 %

Excited

0 0 %

Sleepy

0 0 %

Angry

0 0 %

Surprise

0 0 %