{{Short description|Kenyan politician and broadcaster (died 2018)}} '''Ben Okello Oluoch''', also known as '''Ben Oluoch Okello''' and '''B.O.O.''',<ref name=Succumb>[https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001284621/migori-senator-ben-oluoch-okello-succumbs-to-cancer Migori Senator Ben Oluoch Okello succumbs to cancer], by Hillary Orinde, in ''The Standard''; published June 19, 2018; retrieved April 25, 2020</ref> (1963<ref name=ThisMan>[https://www.nation.co.ke/counties/migori/This-man-Ben-Oluoch-Okello-migori-senator/1183306-4619848-15ixhkqz/index.html This man Ben Oluoch Okello, the fallen Migori senator], by Justus Ochieng'<!-- apparently the apostrophe is part of his name; do not remove it--> and Elisha Otieno; in ''Daily Nation''; published June 19, 2018; retrieved April 25, 2020</ref> or 1966<ref name=Senate>[http://www.parliament.go.ke/sites/default/files/2017-05/Tuesday_19th_June_2018.pdf PARLIAMENT OF KENYA: THE SENATE: THE HANSARD: Tuesday, 19th June, 2018], at the Parliament of Kenya; retrieved April 25, 2020</ref> in Rongo, Kenya<ref name=ThisMan/> — June 19, 2018, in Nairobi),<ref name=NationAnnounce>[https://www.nation.co.ke/counties/migori/Migori-Senator-Ben-Oluoch-Okello-dead/1183306-4619686-qxc0vdz/index.html Migori Senator Ben Oluoch Okello dies at MP Shah, Nairobi], in ''Daily Nation''; published June 19, 2018; retrieved April 25, 2020</ref> was a Kenyan radio presenter and politician who represented Migori County in the Senate of Kenya from 2017 to 2018.
==Broadcasting career== In 1983,<ref name=Senate/> Oluoch studied journalism at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication in South B.<ref name=ThisMan/> He earned a bachelor's degree in radio broadcasting from the University of Nairobi in 2013,<ref name=Senate/> and at the time of his death was pursuing a master's degree.<ref name=Senate/>
In 1988, he began working at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.<ref name=Senate/> In 2003, he left the KBC for Royal Media Service's Ramogi-FM,<ref name=Senate/> where he hosted a 5-hour morning program, ''Kogwen gi BOO'' (Luo for "Early morning with BOO").<ref name=ThisMan/><!-- I've seen different idiomatic translations for "Kogwen" - 'dawn time', 'crack of dawn', etc, so I figured out a more formal version.--> He continued as a broadcaster until 2017.<ref name=Senate/>
==Political career==
In the 2017 Kenyan general election, Oluoch represented the Orange Democratic Movement, and succeeded Wilfred Machage.<ref name=NationAnnounce/>
As a Senator, Oluoch served on multiple committees, including Health; Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries; and National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration.<ref name=Extraordinary>[https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001284679/senate-speaker-mourns-migori-senator-ben-okello Lusaka: Senator Ben Oluoch Okello was an extraordinary leader], by Daniel Psirmoi; at ''The Standard''; published June 19, 2018; retrieved April 25, 2020</ref> However, his activity was limited, as he began experiencing health problems shortly after being sworn in, and "spen(t) most of the time in and out of hospital, away from his work station".<ref name=Extraordinary/>
==Personal life== In March 2018, Oluoch responded to online rumors of his death by stating that, despite his recent ailments, he was "still as fit as a fiddle"; he also threatened legal action against those involved.<ref name=Fiddle>[https://nairobinews.nation.co.ke/news/migori-senator-fake-news-death Migori Senator to sue culprits behind fake news of his death], by Elisha Otieno; in ''The Standard''; published March 23, 2018; retrieved April 25, 2020</ref> In June 2018, he died of throat cancer.<ref name=NationAnnounce/>
Oluoch was a polygamist, and had four wives (of whom two survived him) and at least 25 children.<ref name=ManyOthers>[https://nairobinews.nation.co.ke/news/late-migori-senator-leaves-behind-25-children-2 Late Migori Senator leaves behind 25 children ‘and many others’], by Chad Kitundu, in ''Daily Nation''; published June 21, 2018; retrieved April 25, 2020</ref> He was also an Adventist.<ref name=RadioLegacy>[https://www.nation.co.ke/news/BOO--Radio-man-whose-legacy-cannot-be-silenced-by-death/1056-4663314-go2v54z/index.html BOO: Radio man whose legacy cannot be silenced by death], by Omwa Ombara, in ''Daily Nation''; published July 15, 2018; retrieved April 25, 2020</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20180225062400/http://parliament.go.ke/the-senate/senators/item/3911-sen-okello-ben-oluoch Official site] at the Parliament of Kenya (via Archive.org)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oluoch, Ben}} Category:Kenyan radio presenters Category:Members of the Senate of Kenya Category:2018 deaths Category:Deaths from throat cancer Category:University of Nairobi alumni Category:Orange Democratic Movement politicians Category:Bigamists