By By DAVE OPIYOP | Sunday Nation
One of Kenya’s most respected law scholars, Prof Hastings Winston Opinya Okoth-Ogendo, is dead.
Prof Ogendo, a former vice-chairman of the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission, died on Friday night in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he had gone on an assignment for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
He had left the country last Saturday. According to Ed Rege, a close family friend, Prof Ogendo fell ill last Monday.
“And for the next three days, his illness got worse,” said Mr Rege while briefing the media at the deceased’s residence in Karen.
“He was, on Wednesday, joined by his wife, Mrs Ruth Okoth. We understand that he was taken to hospital on Thursday to seek treatment but, unfortunately, he did not make it.
He died on Friday night while under intensive care,” Mr Rege said.
He told the Sunday Nation plans were already in place to bring the body back home by Tuesday this week.
He said an autopsy would be done before the release of the body.
A tentative burial date has been set for May 9 at Gem Rae in Nyando district. This is subject to approval from the family.
On receiving the news of Prof Ogendo’s death, Prime Minister Raila Odinga said it was a “blow to the pro-reform movement in the country”.
“I have received the news with disbelief. In Prof Ogendo, the country has lost a top brain. He was an undisputed authority on land law,” said the Prime Minister in a statement.
Mr Odinga said the don had hugely contributed to the National Constitutional Conference at the Bomas of Kenya and the search for a new constitution.
He added that the country had lost a patriot, a fighter and a high-calibre scholar.
Similar messages of condolences were sent by Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and former Nyakach MP Peter Odoyo.
Dr Ben Sihanya, the dean of University of Nairobi Law School, said Kenya had lost a distinguished scholar, who participated in the establishment of the school.
“It’s a big shock to us. He is indeed irreplaceable. His expertise in land law was unrivalled on the continent. He has advised many governments on these issues. We shall miss him,” the dean said.
Born in 1944, Prof Ogendo attended Maseno and Alliance high schools before proceeding to the University of East Africa in Dar es Salaam and the Oxford University for his bachelor’s degree in civil law.
He then attended University of Yale between 1973 and 1978, where he earned a Doctorate of Science of Law.