Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has joined the country in mourning the late former Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha who died on Tuesday, January 24, 2023.
Magoha, 71, died at the Nairobi Hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home on Tuesday evening.
Led by Secretary General Akello Misori, KUPPET said Magoha made a tremendous positive transformation during his tenure as education minister.
According to Misori, the deceased demonstrated this by dedicating his life to service to the country and humanity.
In his roles, Misori said, Magoha demonstrated a high level of discipline, integrity and leadership that changed the country's education sector for the better
"As the KUPPET fraternity, we send our condolences to the family, friends and relatives of the late Prof. George Omore Magoha who died on Tuesday evening," Misori said, adding that the union received the news of Magoha’s death with shock and disbelief.
"The late former Education Cabinet Secretary taught us that positive transformation is possible if we dedicate ourselves to the service of our country and humanity," he said.
The KUPPET boss noted that Magoha’s contributions to Kenya’s educational development as a medical lecturer, university vice-chancellor, national examinations administrator and cabinet secretary for education were unparalleled.
The SG added that KUPPET worked very closely with Prof. Magoha in his efforts to transform the Kenya National Examinations Council and restore the integrity of the Country's academic qualifications and also witnessed his stellar leadership in designing the post-COVID education recovery strategy and roll-out of the new Competency Based Curriculum while he served as the Cabinet Secretary for Education.
"While the minister has physically departed from us, his ideals and rich legacy will forever live with us," said.
Magoha joined retired President Uhuru Kenyatta's Cabinet in March 2019 and served until October 27, 2022, when President William Ruto named his successor.
He passed just days after joining Maseno University as a professor in the Department of School of Medicine.
Ruto mourns Magoha
President William Ruto yesterday mourned the deceased as a towering giant who stood tall in academia.
“Prof. Magoha is a towering giant of our time, a great man who stood tall in the academy, where he excelled in learning, teaching and research, as well as in administration,” the president said, hailing him for leading a “robust turnaround interventions at the University of Nairobi and the Kenya National Examinations Council.”
"I have been privileged to know and work with the late Professor in many capacities, from the university where I completed my post-graduate studies, to government, where he served with distinction as the chair of KNEC and later as my colleague in Cabinet. We have lost a gifted, unique, distinguished and great servant of Kenya."
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga said the sudden passing on of Magoha came as a deep shocker, saying behind his serious demeanour was a gentle soul committed to excellence.
