Former Education CS George Magoha dies at 71

Former Education CS George Magoha.

Former Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has died at 71. 

“Yes it is true. He is no more,” his wife Dr Barbra Magoha told the Business Daily.

He died at Nairobi Hospital on Tuesday following a cardiac arrest. 

He was reportedly rushed to the facility today after falling ill.  

Prof Magoha was known as a tough-talking and no-nonsense CS during his time at the Education Ministry. 

He leaves behind his wife Dr Magoha and his son Dr Michael Magoha. 

Lee Funeral Home on January 24, 2023, following news of the death of former Education CS Prof George Magoha.

News of his death comes just days after Maseno University announced that he would be joining the institution as a professor of surgery at its School of Medicine.

The Business Daily understands that he had just commissioned his memoir last week, while also gearing up to settle into his new role as a don at the university. 

By Tuesday evening, family members had started arriving at Lee Funeral Home where Prof Magoha’s body was moved. 

Dr Barbara Magoha (centre), wife of late former Education CS George Magoha, at Lee Funeral Home on January 24, 2022.

Double tragedy for Magoha family

His death is a double blow to the Magoha family as his brother, Prof Richard Nyabera Magoha, was set to be buried this Saturday after passing on in the US on December 6, 2022. 

The family was already going on with burial arrangements when they were hit with news of the death of the former CS.

In August 2021, Prof Magoha lost another brother, Charles Agunga Magoha, who died in Sweden.

Medical, academic career

Before being appointed to the cabinet five years ago, Prof Magoha served as Vice-Chancellor at the University of Nairobi (UoN) for ten years (2005 to 2015).

He also served as a Professor of Urological and Transplant Surgery at UoN’s College of Health Sciences.

His medical career includes work and training in Nigeria, Ghana, Ireland and the United Kingdom. He also trained in Executive Management at Stanford University. 

In Nigeria, he began his career as an intern in Surgery at Lagos University Teaching Hospital and rose to become Senior Resident and Clinical Lecturer in Surgery.

He later joined UoN as a Lecturer in Urological Surgery in 1988 and rose through the ranks to become a full Professor of Surgery in 2000.  

President William Ruto has mourned Prof George Magoha as a unique, gifted and great servant of Kenya, adding that he feels privileged to have known and worked with the former Education Cabinet Secretary.

Family and friends arrive at Lee Funeral Home on January 24, 2023 following news of the death of former Education CS Prof George Magoha.

“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,” President Ruto said in a statement.

“He led robust turnaround interventions at the University of Nairobi and the Kenya National Examinations Council. Throughout his tenure (as CS), he evinced a commitment to high standards in the public service and uncompromising integrity,” he added.