President William Ruto has sent a message of condolence following the passing away of former Permanent Secretary Pro Karega Mutahi.
The President said he is saddened by the death, describing him as a firm and hardworking administrator who served with distinction in the public service.
"Prof Mutahi had vast knowledge and expertise in the education sector and he brilliantly employed them in improving the management and delivery of teaching and learning of our children," Ruto said in his message of solace.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and the education fraternity at this painful time.Rest In Peace, Prof Karega Mutahi."
Prof Mutahi served as PS in the grand coalition government of the late President Mwai Kibaki.
He's credited for being instrumental in driving key reforms in higher education.
His death was announced Sunday at the All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi by Provost Evans Omollo.
He said the church and the family plan to hold a memorial mass for the late professor Wednesday afternoon.
Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital chairperson Olive Mugenda eulogised Prof Mutahi as a pragmatic leader who got work done.
She said Prof Mutahi's contribution to the education sector was immense.
"When the construction of the Kenyatta University Hospital was almost complete and we were preparing to operationalise it, Prof Mutahi graciously accepted to chair (as a consultant) the operationalization committee that I appointed as the VC then," Prof Mugenda said in a post on X.
The former Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor said Prof Mutahi supported vice chancellors during her tenure and this support contributed to the university posting good performance.
She added that as chair of the operationalization committee of the KUTRRH, his report was critical in guiding the running of the facility at the time she was appointed to chair the hospital's board.
"His contribution to the education sector and KUTRRH in that critical operationalisation committee will find its place in the book pages when the story is written. May Prof Mutahi's soul rest in peace after an illustrious and effective public service career," Prof Mugenda said.
Prof Mutahi's career in the education sector started from a humble background as a secondary school teacher before rising to the PS position.
After his Certificate of Primary Education in 1963, he never enrolled in a secondary school, he only registered for exams at different levels.
He enrolled for the Kenya English Test, and later sat the Kenya Junior Secondary Examination (KJSE) which he passed and enrolled for O-level exams in 1967.
He scored a Second Division, then enrolled for A-level exams in 1968.
Prof Mutahi joined the University of Nairobi in 1973 after he sat for and passed the mature age entrance examination, then administered by the University of East Africa.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Politics from the University of Nairobi that same year.
He later pursued a Master of Arts in linguistics from the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Linguistics from the University of Nairobi in 1978.