- Former TUMSA President Elvis Otieno collapsed during a meeting in Mombasa after an epileptic attack and later died in hospital.
- Otieno, who served as TUMSA President in 2023/2024, was remembered for his servant leadership, mentorship, and advocacy for students.
- His death has drawn tributes from student leaders, the university community, and government officials, highlighting his influence beyond TUM and his enduring legacy of service.
Elvis Otieno, popularly known as “Beast” and a former president of the Technical University of Mombasa Students’ Association (TUMSA), has died after collapsing during a meeting with colleagues and friends in Mombasa.
According to a statement from TUMSA’s Office of the President, Otieno suffered a sudden epileptic attack that led to a fatal fall while attending a meeting at the English Point Hotel in Nyali, Mombasa, on the evening of July 20. He was rushed to Premier Hospital for emergency treatment but did not survive. His body is currently lying at Pandya Hospital.
News of his death has drawn an outpouring of grief from the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM), current and former student leaders, and national government officials, many of whom described him as a rare and selfless leader whose influence extended far beyond his university.
Otieno served as TUMSA’s executive president for the 2023/2024 academic year. Beyond the university, he chaired the Young Champions initiative and served as national Chairperson of the Visionary Alliance for Ruto (VAR), roles through which his leadership reached young people across the country.
In a statement issued on July 20, current TUMSA President Obiero Peter said he received the news with profound shock, disbelief and a deeply broken heart, describing Otieno as a brother, leader and mentor. Peter, who said he had walked alongside Otieno on a shared political and leadership journey and considered him a close personal friend, called the loss immeasurable, saying the university community had lost an irreplaceable pillar, a source of hope and a visionary voice.
TUMSA has since called an urgent physical assembly for all students, student leaders, friends and stakeholders to honour Otieno’s legacy and deliberate on the way forward. The gathering is set for 4pm today at the TUM Graduation Square.
TUM said Otieno’s death had left a profound void in the university community, made more poignant by the fact that only hours before he died, he had been at the office of the vice chancellor and the dean of students, advocating for a fellow student who faced missing examinations over outstanding fee balances. He had already secured a sponsor to support the student financially and was pursuing every available avenue to ensure they would be allowed to sit their exams. In one of his final acts, TUM said, Otieno was not pursuing a personal interest but standing in the gap for another, a fitting reflection of a life dedicated to serving others.
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Otieno joined TUM in 2018 to study a Diploma in Procurement Management in the School of Management Science, before advancing to a Bachelor’s degree from which he graduated in 2025. His passion for leadership and student representation became evident early in his academic journey. In 2023, he was elected as a delegate and through his integrity, humility and dedication, he earned the confidence of the student body, going on to be elected TUMSA President for the 2023/2024 academic year.
As TUMSA President, TUM said, Otieno exemplified servant leadership at its finest. He was approachable, dependable and solution oriented, always placing the welfare of students above personal interests. He cultivated a culture of dialogue, mutual respect and collaboration between students and the university administration, believing that lasting solutions were achieved through engagement rather than confrontation. His calm disposition, his maturity in handling complex issues and his commitment to peaceful coexistence earned him the admiration and respect of students, staff and the wider university community.
Even after graduating, Otieno never severed his bond with the university. He continued mentoring students and fellow graduates, using his professional and personal networks to connect young people with employment and business opportunities. He believed that success was meaningful only when shared, and he dedicated much of his time to opening doors for others.
Tribute from the Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy
In his own tribute, Fikirini Jacobs, Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, said the news of Otieno’s death had filled him with profound shock and sadness. He described Otieno as a leader whose consistency, determination and remarkable mental agility set him apart, calling him a truly unique individual.
Jacobs noted that Otieno had gone on to expand his influence well beyond TUM, building strong relationships and leaving an indelible mark across various student leadership bodies throughout the country.
Though his life had been cut short, Jacobs said, Otieno’s legacy of courage, service and focus would forever remain in the hearts of those who knew him. He extended his condolences to Otieno’s family, friends, colleagues and the entire TUMSA fraternity.
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A legacy of service
TUM said that although his life was cut tragically short, Otieno leaves behind an enduring legacy of servant leadership, integrity, compassion and hope. His influence, the university said, is reflected in the countless students whose education he supported, the graduates whose careers he helped launch, the friendships he nurtured and the lives he transformed through his kindness and generosity. He demonstrated, TUM said, that true leadership is not measured by power or position but by one’s willingness to serve, uplift and empower others.
By Benedict Aoya
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