James Omlongo

It's sad Nally will be viewed as a Musician, but before that, he's a human being. It's also sad that once you become popular, it's like in people's eyes, you stop existing as a human. But Nally okaana ike ka koka like everybody else. A non-troublesome human being who used to win flip high-jump competitions at Young Braves soccer field as a 14 year old kid and play soccer - a left footed wing back. I got admitted into the hostel on Friday, 10 April 2006. The fellow Grade 10's room was full so I had to go in Grade 11's where a few spare beds were and he welcomed me to take a bed next to his. We shared morvite, biscuits, iron, late night stories, etc. Played in one hostel soccer team (there were 3). Because of the proximity of our beds, together with another lad called David Sebastian, when they woke up, I woke up. When they were ironing, I ironed after. When they went to fetch the morning bread, I went. When I heard the plastic of a Glucose biscuit or NikNaks, I'd pat his mattress and he'd start laugh and give me. I use to follow him, sometimes without realizing it, and at some point he almost unintentionally unalived me with a pickaxe when I walked behind him while we were destroying a termite mould at the hostel, but miraculously the pick didn't touch me, though it took out a key holder from my neck. We always joked about it. It was unbelievable to record a song at 15/16 back in the days - but at Miss Canisianum, he would rock the stage with a song he recorded. Never seen him in a fight or any altercation, physical or verbal, but at the same time he wasn't a push over - just an easy going likeable guy. He was a very resilient guy who didn't quit anything he started. In 2012 when he said he was still going to pursue his music career, I didn't think he was serious until in 2021 when he sent me a song he didn't like. Finishing his Engineering studies wasn't a walk in the park. In 2022/23, some Italians (construction) he was working for fired him unfairly. Back on forth happened and eventually took them to court regardless of their power, won the case and they had to pay him. His passing hurts, more so with a level of guilt, because as soon as the fame started to increase, I because less proactive towards him and the business plans we had, kept giving excuses to not honour his invitation to his shows, because I don't like that kind of limelight and unsolicited cameras. I felt his fame was going to attract energies I was not prepared for. But we remained cool and he kept sharing his shows. He was a great dude. The recent publicity is only amplified because he's a celebrity. 90% of men are doing the same but we don't get to hear the stories because they're only spoken by those that know them. Therefore, a Civil Engineer flourishing in the music industry having access to all types of women and choosing some doesn't make him a bad person. He was a good human being - has always been a non-troublesome kid. Probably too kind for an industry such as that one. It's very unfair to his family that they birthed a son, raised a son, educated a son who took his studies seriously to bring the fruits they have sown while also pursuing his hobbies, just for whatever energy to come decide he should stop being alive at the eve of his success. I know most of you only know of what you read on social media. Most of you only know "the musician". But we just know Nally - the kid we met 22+ years ago and that side of him needs to be out too. Nally's good image also deserves a seat on the socials. It cannot be suffocated by negativity pushed by people who don't know him personally, over an incidence that occurs in almost everybody's life. May his soul Rest In Eternal Peace.