A somber mood engulfed Ahono Ratudi village in the outskirts of Yala town in Siaya county, following the death of former Education CS George Magoha.
Prof George Albert Omore Magoha, 71, died on Tuesday evening at the Nairobi Hospital following a cardiac arrest.
The heavily forested village is not only mourning the passing of the straight-speaking public servant but also his brother who lived in USA, Prof Richard Albert Nyabera Magoha.
When the Star visited, close family members were absent except for his cousin, villagers and journalists who flocked the homestead of his deceased father Bernard Boniface Magoha.
At the former Education minister’s homestead on the outskirts of Yala town, only casuals were available; doing laundry.
Adjacent to the home is the homestead of the deceased US sojourner whose burial was already set for Saturday.
A casual at the home of his brother told the Star that the grave that would be the final resting place of Richard was being prepared.
The villagers had no clue whether the Saturday burial ceremony still stood, or it would be pushed to a later date, or both brothers will be buried on the same day.
“We are shocked by the double tragedy. We still haven’t received communication from our relatives in Nairobi, whether there are any changes on the burial slated for Saturday,” the deceased’s cousin George Agutu Opundo said.
Traders and boda boda operators at the neighbouring Marenyo trading centre told the Star that death had snatched their pride away.
“Prof Magoha was our pride because he was a diligent public servant in his roles as vice chancellor of the University of Nairobi, Knec chairperson and as the Education CS,” Walter Owiti said.
Another villager Victor Onyango, was saddened that Gem was losing professors and denying them their pride as the cradle of knowledge.
“This is a village of professors and we have lost two at ago. It is sad because we are losing wise men that should live longer to benefit society,” Onyango said.
The home of the two deceased professors shares a fence with the homestead of historian Prof Bethwell Ogot and his deceased wife and author Grace Akinyi Ogot.