The Egerton University fraternity is mourning the passing of its former Chancellor, Professor Shem Oyoo Wandiga.
The institution announced the news through its official Facebook page, noting that Prof. Wandiga served the university from 2013 to 2019.
“We extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the wider academic community during this difficult time,” the post read in part.
During his six-year tenure as Chancellor of Egerton University, Prof. Wandiga presided over numerous graduation ceremonies, awarding degrees to thousands of graduates while steering the institution through significant academic growth and infrastructural development.
Prof. Wandiga was born in Karachuonyo, Homa Bay County, on September 22, 1939.
After completing his early education at Kamagambo School and Pennsylvania’s Pine Forge Institute, he graduated from Howard University in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry.
He later earned a Master’s degree from the University of Maryland and a PhD from Case Western Reserve University, both in 1972.
Between 1969 and 1979, Prof. Wandiga taught chemistry as an assistant professor and professor at several institutions, including the University of Maryland, the Inter-American University of San Juan in Puerto Rico, and the University of Nairobi (UoN).
At UoN, he served as Chairman of the Department of Chemistry from 1977 to 1983 and later held senior leadership positions, including Principal of the College of Biological and Physical Sciences, Deputy Vice Chancellor, and Founding Director of the Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation.
A giant in the global scientific community, Prof. Wandiga was a member of numerous national and international organizations.
He helped found the Kenya National Academy of Sciences in 1983 and served as its Chairman. He also chaired the Natural Sciences Committee of the UNESCO National Commission.
Additionally, he coordinated the Eastern and Southern Africa Environmental Chemistry Network workshops under the Association of Faculties of Science of African Universities (AFSAU).
His international scientific and diplomatic career flourished in the 1990s.
In November 1995, he was elected Kenya’s representative to UNESCO’s Executive Board.
He later became a member of the General Committee of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) in 1996 and Chairman of the Programme and External Relations Commission of the UNESCO Executive Board in 1997.
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Prof. Wandiga’s research focused mainly on coordination chemistry, environmental chemistry, and pollution chemistry.
Throughout his distinguished career, he published more than 70 scientific papers, leaving behind a profound academic and scientific legacy.
By Frank Mugwe
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