Family: The late Mike Oyier was multilingual but challenged in Kiswahili
At the age of 48, the Kenyan media industry and viewers have lost a legendary broadcast journalist.
The late Michael Odhiambo Oyier was a prolific veteran journalist with a career spanning decades at Kenya’s top media houses, including Standard Group’s KTN, where he worked for over 10 years, Capital FM and Kiss FM, before finally venturing out on his own to set up Serenity Group Limited to “pursue and commercialise his personal skills and interests in training, communication and counselling – he was a counselling psychologist since 2007”.
But before he took the media industry by storm, he had an early ‘nomadic’ childhood which greatly influenced his education and learning of new languages.
According to his family, the late Oyier began his education in Rome, Italy, where his father was stationed in 1978 as the first station manager for Kenya Airways. Michael attended Junior English School from Kindergarten to Year 3 and then moved to St George’s British International School where he studied up to Year 8.
“During these years he developed his storytelling, stage presence, music and reading skills with opportunities to participate in school plays, assembly skits and music. When in Rome, he also did what the Romans do and fell in love with the beautiful game: of football. Together with his siblings and friends, he played football whenever he could, including all-day games at home on weekends and during the long summer holidays,” read his family’s obituary.
It went on to say that during his time in Europe, the late Michael Oyier honed his linguistic skills and love for different languages.
“He learnt and spoke the King’s English and some French while at school, then switched to Italian when out of class and out of school, especially with his mother and siblings, but Dholuo was preserved for his late father. This unique language arrangement explains his multilingual skills and why Kiswahili was such a challenge,” the family said.
The family moved back to Kenya in 1988 and Michael attended St Mary’s School in Nairobi.
“He was an elected class monitor, a St John’s First Aider, a debater, a pioneer of the Model United Nations programme, the first trumpeter in the school orchestra, a member of the first eleven school football team, playing number 6, and a member of the school’s athletics teams – although he was not as legendary among his fellow Kenyans as he was among his former Italian and European compatriots.
Italian and European compatriots in Rome.
He did, however, earn the school colours in athletics and football, which he proudly wore on his school blazer. Michael loved the arts and found an outlet to express himself through them. He was an actor, singer and instrumentalist, creating wonderful performances that we cherish to this day.
Michael was an all-rounder at St Mary’s, winning the coveted General Excellence Award on several occasions, as well as awards for academic, sporting and musical achievement. He was an admired leader, elected by staff and students alike as Head of School and Captain of St Matthew’s ‘Blue’ House – an experience he cherished,” the family added.
The late Oyier’s university years were also remarkable after he joined USIU-Africa to study for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology & Management, supported by an academic benefactor who quietly saw his potential and equally quietly sponsored his undergraduate studies. To this day, they have never wanted to be publicly acknowledged, but Michael has always been grateful to them. ‘
He later began another self-sponsored course for a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology at the same university.
He will be buried on 3 May 2024 at his home in Kanyada Katuma, Homa Bay County. He died on 20 April 2024, a few days after suffering a stroke.