The late Professor Ken Waribora who was found dead in a Nairobi morgue

Celebrated Kenyan Author and Swahili scholar, Professor Ken Walibora has passed on. He was reported missing Friday, April 10th, 2020, only to be discovered dead on Wednesday, April 15, at Kenyatta Referral and Teaching Hospital's morgue in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. It is alleged he was hit by a speeding bus and the investigations are ongoing. He died at the age of 56. Eulogizing the scholar, Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta described him as a "polished broadcaster and a prolific writer whose literary works will continue to inspire future generations."

Professor Walibora published over 40 works and was a fierce advocate for the widespread use of the Swahili language in Kenyan schools. His famous works include books like “Kidagaa Kimemwozea” and “Siku Njema”, which were adopted as part of the curriculum in schools across his home country, and later translated to English. His book “Siku Njema”, published in 1996, cast him into the limelight.

Until his passing, Prof Walibora was the Director of the Global and Language Studies (GLAS) Centre at Riara University and lectured at the institution's School of International Relations and Diplomacy. He was also an assistant professor in African languages at the University of Wisconsin.

He held a PhD in Comparative Cultural Studies from Ohio State University; his research interests covered culture, world literature, post-colonial literature, Anglophone African continental, and Diasporic and Swahili literature.

In a statement, Professor Robert Gateru, Vice-Chancellor Riara University said; "He will be remembered as a person full of life, who served with humility. He showed great respect to all irrespective of status. He was dearly loved and greatly admired by both his students and his colleagues. His teaching and research work has been outstanding."

Colleagues and persons who interacted with him expressed profound shock on the death of a man who had made an outstanding contribution to the country’s education, art and literature through his creations.

Photo courtesy / Google

Article by Jedidah Mwangi