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Kenneth Konayuma: Remembrance & Reflections

The article below is adapted from a speech I gave during the funeral service of the late Kenneth Konayuma on 22 October 2021 at the Bread of Life Church International in Emmasdale, Lusaka.

Early Years (1972-1979)

It pleased God to bless the union of Josiah and Betty Konayuma with twins (Kenneth & Catherine) born on 21st June 1972 at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka. My earliest recollection of some notable events in Kenny's life is when the twins were almost two years old a snake slithered through where they sat in the garden where my mother was working. This event made my late mum very scared. In God's providence, the snake went away without harming any of them.

Kenneth started his primary school in 1979 at the then Northmead Primary School (now Northemead Secondary School) in Lusaka. Mum had to spend a night on the queue for him and Catherine to get a Grade 1 place. That is how tough it was to be enrolled in grade 1 back then. I used to walk to school with Kenneth and Catherine during their grade 1 and 2 days. We walked at least for 1 hour from Emmasdale to Northmead.

Schooling Years (1980-1989)

Kenneth with the twin sister Catherine completed his primary school in 1985. They then proceeded to secondary school in 1986 at Kabulonga Boys Secondary School and Kabulonga Girls Secodary School respectively. Kenneth made lasting friendships with pupils from Kabulonga Boys Secondary school. During this period the Konayuma family lived in Emmasdale and in Kabulonga. Kenneth had a happy childhood. We played a lot as a family and with our neighbours (such as Mwi & late Masialeti Libakeni) and the Lukona's (Maxwell and Mambwe, both late). Kenny managed to resist being changed from left handed to right handed by our parents, which I did not manage to successfully resist.

Working & Family Establishing Years (1990-1999)

Kenneth first worked at the Examinations Council if Zambia and later joined the Zambia Police. His work at Zambia Police took him to work in Kabwe and Lusaka in a number of stations. Kenneth took after our dad in being a police man. Just like our father rose through the ranks and ended up as Inspector General of Police, Kenneth rose through the ranks to become Superintendent at the time of his demise. During his tour of duty in Kabwe, Kenneth got married to Oreen and started a family with Kathryn being born to them in this town.

Expanding Years (2000-2009)

During this period Kenneth expanded in his professional life, academic studies and size of the family. Miyoba, the daughter, was born during this period. Kenneth worked in Lusaka and Petuake. In this period he got a Bachelor of Education degree from the Zambian Open University.

The Latter Years (2010-2021)

During this period, Linda, named after our late sister was born. Kenneth worked in Chipata, Chadiza and Ndola in this period. His stay in the Eastern Province seemed to have been a memorable one. He was nicknamed "Uncle Malume". It was in Eastern Province that Kenneth met the Lord and became a Christian. He became a member of the Bread of Life Church where he served as an elder.

In 2018, whilst travelling to Ndola on transfer from Chipata, Kenneth was involved in a road traffic accident. God spared his life and those he was traveling with among whom was Yvonne his daughter. Kenneth had a number of health challenges that culminated with cancer which claimed his life on 19 October 2021.

Reflections
In reflecting on the life of Kenneth whom God was pleased to give us for the past forty-nine years, the following things stand out:
  • His friendliness: Kenneth was friendly to all regardess of age, status or background. 
  • His jovialness: He was ever smiling.
  • His appetite for learning and knowledge.
  • His patient endurance in trials.
  • His outspokenness.
  • The precious moments we shared in our childhood and adulthood.
  • The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away Kenneth. May the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21). May we be like Job who despite all the trials that he endured, he did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing (Job 1:22). 
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