First African Mang’u High School head, Prof Raphael Njoroge, dies in the US
The late Prof Raphael Njoroge, the first African headmaster of Mang’u High School. He died Wednesday, November 19, 2014 of cancer at the Rose Mohan Hospice in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. He was aged 75. PHOTO | COURTESY | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Prof Njoroge, 75, succumbed to cancer at the Rose Mohan Hospice in Worcester, Massachusetts on Wednesday morning.
- His wife, Lucy Wairimu Njoroge, told the Nation of his struggle with failing health after being diagnosed with cancer in 2011.
- Prof Njoroge was the founding Chairman of the Kenya University Project which has been scouting for partners with the aim of establishing a state-of-the-art university in Kenya.
- Prof Njoroge was also one of the founding commissioners of the Commission for Higher Education in 1985.
Renowned Kenyan educationist, author and first African headmaster of Mang’u High School, Prof Raphael Njoroge, has passed away in the United States.
Prof Njoroge, 75, succumbed to cancer at the Rose Mohan Hospice in Worcester, Massachusetts on Wednesday morning.
The scholar, who migrated to the US in 1994, was teaching at the Worcester consortium of colleges which included Quinsigamond College, Worcester State University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) University of Science and Technology.
His wife, Lucy Wairimu Njoroge, told the Nation of his struggle with failing health after being diagnosed with cancer in 2011.
“I must however say we were blessed to have Raphael in our lives.
He was a principled man who dedicated his life to the service of humanity both in Kenya and the United States,” she said by email.
Prof Njoroge was the founding Chairman of the Kenya University Project which has been scouting for partners with the aim of establishing a state-of-the-art university in Kenya.
MANG'U FIRST AFRICAN HEADMASTER
But he is perhaps best remembered as the first African headmaster of Mang’u High School as well as for his effort to move the school to its current location, along Thika Road.
Between 1975 and 1978, he was as a Lecturer at the University of Nairobi where he became part of the Faculty of Education and taught educational foundation.
He attained his bachelor’s degree in social sciences and philosophy at St Mary’s, Canada and later acquired a postgraduate degree in economics and accounting at Seattle University, Washington State, USA.
He then joined St Michael’s Institute in Spokane, Washington for Ph.L. (Licentiate in Philosophy) and later acquired an MA in philosophy from Gonzaga University, Spokane before returning to the University of Nairobi for a PhD in philosophy.
He joined Kenyatta University as Senior lecturer in 1978 where he became the chairman of the Department of Educational Foundations, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Director of the Bureau of Educational Research.
KENYATTA UNIVERSITY
He was also involved in the involved in the formulation of the statutes that made Kenyatta University College a full-fledged university in 1985.
Prof Njoroge was also one of the founding commissioners of the Commission for Higher Education in 1985, presently called the Commission for University Education.
He authored several books throughout his chequered career.
“There is no doubt in my mind that he will be missed by many as a mentor and a man who touched lives in special ways. He lived a life worth emulating,” said Mr Dan Kamau, a journalist based in Boston, Massachusetts.
“I heard the very sad news this morning. He was a force in life as well as a good friend and I cannot get over the loss of Raphael,” said Prof Arthur Gerstenfield who worked with Prof Njoroge on various faculty assignments.
