The late Captain Apollo Malowa was a generous, caring and fun-loving young man who exemplified the beauty of life and humanity through rare feats of philanthrophy to both family and strangers.

This was revealed on Thursday during a requiem mass in honour of the 34 year old ex-soldier who perished on October 21 in a helicopter crash in Lake Nakuru.

The mass was held at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in South B and was attended by family members, friends, workmates and former servicemen in the Kenya Airforce.

As speaker after speaker rose to give their tribute, one thing stood out; Malowa was a man of the people who lived life to the fullest.

He was eulogized as a responsible gentleman who was like a father not only to his four siblings (a sister and 3 brothers) but also to total strangers who he felt needed his help.

The case of a young Kevin Muriuki, a bright boy from Nyeri County, stood out as one of Malowa’s most famous acts of generosity.

Muriuki comes from a needy family and dreams of becoming a pilot but his parents could not afford school fees at Nyeri High School where he was admitted early this year.

Touched by his plight after a local daily highlighted it, Malowa teamed up with colleagues under the Kenya Airforce Veterans Association and offered to pay his school fees.

Mourners were told how Malowa and his crew flew the ambitious future pilot to the school as an act of motivation, temporarily bringing activities to standstill, to show him that his dreams of flying a plane one day were valid.

“You would actually not believe the spectacle they caused, people asking which mono is this that is being flown to school,” Malowa’s sister, Victoria, said during her tribute.

“There is no word to describe how much we love you and miss you. Your love and sunshine brought cheer and laughter; you were kind and selfless to the very end,” Malowa’s brother Fredrick said.

His mother Mama Dorothy said the loss of her son “felt like God had used a big eraser and cleaned the chalkboard of her dreams”.

She said she remained hopeful that her son would survive the crash that fateful Saturday morning but her hopes dimmed when the rescue operation suddenly turned into a recovery operation.

 “It was unimaginable standing on the shores of lake Nakuru waiting frantically for you from far-off place…parts of me were broken again and again when I saw your lifeless body and disfigured face. It was unimaginable planning your send off, choosing a coffin, a gravesite what to say…” Mama Dorothy said.

The church listened keenly as she poured out her heart in tribute to her fallen first born son. Despite her loss, she remained calm and strong willed.

Malowa's body was not brought in the church from the morgue in Nakuru.

Several journalists whom Malowa frequently flew to political rallies, Kirinyaga women rep Purity Wangui and Public Service Commission chairperson Margaret Kobia were in attendance.

Dorothy said her solace comes from the scriptures from which she quoted extensively throughout her tribute.

“In the book of Acts of Apostle, we read of the story of Simon Peter who was released from prison but in the same chapter apostle James was beheaded.

“Hebrew 11 is full of contrasts some women received back their dead, raised to life, some stopped the mouths of lions while others were torched and others put to death by stoning.

“None of us know how our lives or the lives of those we love will play out,” she said.

“I have heard the Lord Jesus’ calming voice and felt his nearness. I have a God who also suffered and for that reason he is my greatest comforter,” Mama Dorothy said.

Malowa, an alumnus of Maranda High School in Bondo, joined the Kenya Airforce immediately after sitting his KCPE in 2001.

He bypassed an opportunity to pursue a Bachelor of Architecture course at the University of Nairobi. His late father, Major Gordon Kizito Malowa, seemingly influenced his induction in the force at such a tender age.

Malowa rose through the ranks to become a full lieutenant in the Airforce after going through the prerequisite Cadet Officer course.

A series of rigorous training saw him become among the most experienced and trusted helicopter pilots in East Africa until his departure from the service in 2012.

His chartered career as a freelance pilot saw him serve with the Kenya Police Airwing, Geo Air Limited as Chief Pilot and Director of Flight Operations and as Chief Pilot with Northwood Aviation.

In October 2016, he joined Flex Air Charters where he worked until the fateful Saturday morning.

He was the pilot of choice for most politicians including President Uhuru Kenyatta, NASA principals Raila Odinga and Moses Mudavadi, Tanzania President John Magufuli, his predecessor Jakaya Kikwete, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, tycoon Jimmy Wanjigi and the late minister Nicholas Biwott among others.

"He was a fantastic pilot and he remains a fantastic pilot. He was not afraid to live, and live Malowa lived," said Citizen TV reporter Jacky Maribe.

Malowa will be buried on Saturday, November 4 at his parent’s home in Olago-Kamkwaya village, Uyawi sub-location, Central Sakwa Location, Bondo, Siaya County.

Meanwhile, efforts are still on to recover the bodies of three other victims who died alongside Malowa.

Here are some photos from the mass...

-The Star/ EMMANUEL WANJALA