- The University of Eldoret has lost Prof Philip Raburu, a long-serving scholar and administrator.
- Prof Raburu has served in senior leadership, including as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Planning, Research and Extension.
- Students and colleagues have remembered him as a mentor, administrator and community leader whose influence extended beyond academia.
The University of Eldoret is mourning the death of Prof Philip Okoth Raburu, a long-serving academic and administrator who passed away on Monday, September 28, at about 4:30am while receiving treatment at Eldoret Hospital after a period of illness.
Prof Raburu, who served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Planning, Research and Extension, is remembered for a career defined by scholarship, mentorship, administration and community service. His death has left colleagues, students and family members paying tribute to a scholar whose professional life was closely tied to the growth of the institution.
Family members confirmed his death, with his cousin Willis Owino-Ong’or recalling that the professor appeared contemplative in his final hours, repeatedly expressing his desire to go “home.” Prof Raburu is survived by his wife Elizabeth and their children Jessie, Eugene, Steve and Joy.
Academic and Administrative Career
Prof Raburu’s career at the University of Eldoret spanned decades. He rose through the academic ranks to become an associate professor in January 2015 and held several administrative roles, including hall warden, postgraduate coordinator and member of the student disciplinary committee. These positions brought him into direct contact with students, shaping their academic and personal experiences.
His appointment as Deputy Vice-Chancellor placed him in senior leadership, overseeing planning, research and extension functions. His career reflected the multiple ways academics contribute to higher education through teaching, administration, mentorship and community engagement.
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Tributes from Students and Colleagues
University of Eldoret student president Faith Cherotich described Prof Raburu as a mentor and father figure, noting his influence extended beyond formal responsibilities. His guidance and support for students formed an important part of his contribution to the institution.
Beyond the university, Prof Raburu worked with communities and civil society organisations on environmental development and sustainable resource management, linking his academic expertise with wider community needs.
A Scholar Remembered
For the University of Eldoret, his death represents the loss of a senior leader whose institutional knowledge and service shaped the university’s growth. His journey from lecturer to Deputy Vice-Chancellor illustrates a career that combined academia, administration and mentorship.
As tributes continue to flow, Prof Raburu is remembered as a scholar, administrator and mentor whose legacy will endure through the students he guided, the colleagues he worked with and the communities he served.
By Hillary Muhalya
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