The final moments of Gloria Sekeiyan Khalwale, the late wife of Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, have been brought into painful focus through an emotional account by her stepson, Stephen “Kapten” Khalwale.
Speaking during Gloria’s funeral at Malinya Stadium in Kakamega on Friday, August 21, Stephen took mourners through the heartbreaking sequence of events that preceded her sudden death.
According to Stephen, the family had been preparing to attend a bullfighting event when he received an urgent call from his sister.
At first, he reportedly assumed the emergency involved cattle rustlers, a problem the family had encountered in the past. But when his sister arrived in distress, she delivered news that immediately changed the mood.
Gloria was reportedly struggling to breathe.
Stephen rushed to the family home, where he found Senator Khalwale desperately attempting to resuscitate his wife.
Without wasting time, Stephen prepared the vehicle and contacted his brother, Eugine, as the family moved to get Gloria to hospital as quickly as possible.
The journey to the hospital was filled with anxiety, but there were brief moments that gave the family hope.
Stephen recalled that when they reached the Sigalagala area, Gloria appeared responsive, creating a sense that she might pull through.
That hope, however, would soon be shattered.
Doctors continued efforts to save her after she arrived at the hospital, but despite their intervention, Gloria died, leaving the family devastated.
For Stephen, the loss was more than that of a stepmother. He described Gloria as a woman who had played a deeply important role in his life from childhood.
He recalled meeting her in Nairobi in 2006 and spoke warmly about the affection, care and encouragement she showed him and other members of the family.
Among the memories that remained especially vivid was Gloria’s habit of preparing brown porridge for the children.
But her influence went far beyond the family kitchen.
Stephen recalled a difficult period during his secondary school years when he was struggling academically. Gloria attended his Form Four Annual General Meeting and used the opportunity to encourage him to take his education seriously.
Her words, he said, helped him regain focus and motivated him to work harder. He eventually passed his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination.
In another poignant revelation, Stephen said Gloria was the last person he spoke to on the Friday before he left for home.
Their conversation reportedly centred on the upcoming Linda Mwnanchi rally scheduled to take place in Homa Bay on Sunday.
Neither could have known that their conversation would become one of Stephen’s final memories of a woman he regarded as a mother figure.
As he addressed mourners at her funeral, Stephen’s recollections painted a picture of Gloria as a compassionate woman whose influence extended beyond her immediate family.
For him, she was not simply the wife of Senator Khalwale or his stepmother. She was a source of guidance, encouragement and affection who had helped shape his life.
Her sudden death has therefore left a painful void in the Khalwale family, with those closest to her now left holding onto memories of a woman whose kindness and support touched their lives in lasting ways.
