Background
Omamo was born on March 27, 1928, in Bondo in a family of eight children, two boys and six girls. His father married eight other women and had scores of children.
Omamo was born on March 27, 1928, in Bondo in a family of eight children, two boys and six girls. His father married eight other women and had scores of children.
He went to Maranda Sector School, five kilometres from his home, in 1936. He once talked about his first day in school: “I was half naked, with only a goat skin strip to cover the private parts and buttocks."
By the time Omamo finished secondary school at Maseno College, He'd found a passion for agriculture. He then received a scholarship to study in India in 1951. He graduated from the Punjab Agricultural College in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. He also earned a Doctorate, and studied at Oregon State University.
On his return home, he rose fast from agricultural officer in 1963 to district and provincial officer and finally Director of Agriculture in South Nyanza in July 1964; then transferred to Nairobi as Assistant Director in Charge of Agricultural Economics Planning.
Entering Egerton Agricultural College, his big step came when he was appointed principal in 1966. His task was to transform this excellent “white farmers” agricultural college into something that would suit the modern African farmer. He stayed in the job until 1969 leaving only because of the crisis in Nyanza following the assassination of Tom Mboya, and the need to have new Luo leaders in central govern¬ment.
In the December 1969 elections he fought in Bondo, the seat previously held by the detained Luo leader Oginga Odinga. With Luo ministers falling all round him he triumphed and was appointed Minister for Natural Resources.
After falling ill in the mid 2000s, Omamo died from a long standing illness at the age of 82 in April 2010. His funeral was attended by family and friends, which included Raila Odinga, and Current VP Kalonzo Musyoka, and then President Mwai Kibaki. He was buried at his estate in Utonga Bay at Nyambarimba house, just outside Bondo.
Omamo is remembered as being one of Kenya’s most illustrious politicians and for his bulky frame and un-matched sense of humour that won him many admirers. His rib-tickling humour brought forth a loveable shade to his stance as one of the forefront politicians of 1980s Kenya. He left behind two wives, 16 children and countless grandchildren, a number of which are professionals in Law and Medicine.
Omamo's career in politics began in 1969 and he successfully vied for the Bondo seat. It was previously Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s, but after falling out with the Administration in place he was detained just before the elections. 'Kaliech's' political career spanned almost four decades and saw him represent the Bondo and Muhoroni constituencies in Kenya. Omamo also served as Minister for; Agriculture and Livestock development and Science and Technology. Omamo and Odinga partook in a political rivalry that would last for years. They vied for the support of the people of Bondo, and to a lesser extent Muhoroni.Omamo's last public post came when former President Moi appointed him to chair a commission in the late 1980's.