On Tuesday, January 24, 2023, the passing of former Education Cabinet Secretary, Prof George Magoha, was announced and it came as a shock to Kenyans. The news of his death spread quickly after he was taken to the Nairobi Hospital and reportedly died from a cardiac arrest.
Prof Magoha was widely mourned by political leaders, including President William Ruto, and Kenyans as a whole, who recognized him as a transformative leader in the education sector. Throughout his career, Magoha was a prominent figure in the Kenyan education system, serving as Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, a key institution of higher learning. He later moved on to the Kenya National Examination Council where he streamlined national exams and eventually ended up at the Ministry of Education as Cabinet Secretary, where he played a pivotal role in the implementation of the new education curriculum.
The late Prof Magoha was known for his no-nonsense approach and focus on achieving his goals. In a past interview, he spoke about his rough upbringing in Eastlands, where he was part of a juvenile gang called Sicheki and was involved in skirmishes with rival gangs. However, his time at Starehe Boys Centre helped him to become disciplined and focused. He credited the institution with instilling values that shaped him into the person he became.
Aside from his involvement with a gang, Magoha was also a talented musician and played bass guitar for a local band. He shared that his love for music was so strong that he would occasionally skip classes to play with the late Ochieng Kabaselleh’s band in clubs and entertainment joints in the city.
Prof Magoha’s death is a loss to the education sector, but his story serves as an inspiration for students, encouraging them to take advantage of the programs and opportunities offered by their schools. He is survived by his wife, Dr Barbara Odudu Magoha, and their only child, Dr Michael Magoha.
