George, Alex and Charles: The sad tale of three Magoha brothers

The death of former Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha at the Nairobi Hospital on Tuesday evening opens another mourning chapter for the Magoha family, three years in succession. 

Prof. Magoha, an inimitable surgeon, academic and educational-affairs administrator died of cardiac arrest at the hospital's Accident and Emergency centre. 

He had been rushed there after collapsing at home. 

The family now has the sad task of organising two funerals as one of the Professor's brothers Alex Nyabera who died on December 6 last year, is yet to be laid to rest. Nyabera  died in Allen, Texas, USA. His burial is for slated for January 28, 2023. 

It is not yet clear whether the burial will be postponed. 

On August 31, 2021, the late Prof. Magoha lost another brother. Charles Agunga Magoha died after a short illness at his home in Stockholm, Sweden.

The Magohas were born to late Bernard Boniface Magoha and Mama Joan Sara Aloo Magoha of Ahono Ratudi Village, Gem Sub-County in Siaya County.

Other siblings are the late Consolata Magoha, late William Ogola Magoha, John Obare Magoha, Mary Magdalene Owuor, late Michael Achianja Magoha, Joseph Oyile Magoha and Pauline Anyango Dola. 

Agunga was buried in Ratudi Village, Siaya, on Saturday, September 11, 2021. 

Several leaders have sent condolences following the untimely death of Magoha.

"It is unfortunate and painful that we've lost my friend Prof George Magoha at a time when his family is mourning his brother," former President Uhuru Kenyatta said. 

"I have learnt with great sorrow about the passing of Prof. George Magoha, EGH... Prof. Magoha is a towering giant of our time, a great man who stood tall in the academy, where he excelled in learning, teaching and research, as well as in administration, where he led robust turnaround interventions at the University of Nairobi and the Kenya National Examinations Council," said President William Ruto in his condolence message. 

He was "a transformational leader, illustrious scholar, dedicated public servant, and distinguished medical doctor," mourned ODM leader Raila Odinga.