University of Eldoret Mourns DVC Prof Philip Raburu After His Death

Prof. Raburu died at about 4:30am while receiving treatment at a hospital in Eldoret, according to a family announcement by his cousin, Willis Owino-Ong’or.

Owino-Ong’or described Prof. Raburu as his first cousin, brother in Christ and close friend, saying he had fought courageously before his death.

“It’s a sad morning for me. I have lost my first cousin, son of my aunt, my brother in Christ and friend Prof Philip Raburu this morning at 4.30am in Eldoret hospital. He fought gallantly but God saw it fit to take him,” Owino-Ong’or said.

He also recalled an emotional moment on Sunday when Prof. Raburu repeatedly said that he wanted to go “home”, a statement the family did not immediately understand.

“Yesterday he kept saying he wanted to go ‘home’ but we didn’t understand him. He knew,” Owino-Ong’or said.

Academic and professional journey

Prof. Raburu was an Associate Professor of Aquatic Resources and Environmental Management and held a PhD in Environmental Studies from Moi University, an MSc in Hydrology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany and Zoology from the University of Nairobi.

He hailed from Migingo Village in Kadibo Division, Kisumu County, where he began his education at Migingo Primary School before proceeding to Maranda High School and Maseno High School.

He later pursued university education and built a career spanning teaching, research, environmental management, fisheries and community development.

Before joining university education, Prof. Raburu taught at Moi Teachers’ Training College, Siriba and Kisii Diploma Teachers’ Training Institutions for about eight years.

He joined Moi University in 1994 as an assistant lecturer in the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science and steadily rose through the academic ranks. He later joined the University of Eldoret, where he became an Associate Professor in January 2015.

At the University of Eldoret, Prof. Raburu served in numerous academic and administrative capacities, including as chair or member of various committees dealing with curriculum review, postgraduate programmes, academic affairs, quality assurance, procurement, graduation, strategic planning and performance contracting.

He also served as a senator at Moi University and the University of Eldoret for a combined period of about 12 years and was actively involved in student affairs, including serving as a patron of different student organisations.

Research and mentorship

Prof. Raburu was also recognised for his contribution to research and postgraduate training.

Throughout his career, he conducted numerous research projects and mentored more than 32 postgraduate and undergraduate students in areas related to aquatic resources and environmental management.

He supervised five PhD and 41 MSc students and examined doctoral and master's students locally and internationally.

He also served as an external examiner at Makerere University and undertook more than 20 consultancy assignments nationally and regionally, including several as lead consultant.

His academic contribution included 51 articles published in refereed journals and one book.

Prof. Raburu was also involved in research and community-based development projects, linking academic work with practical interventions aimed at supporting communities and environmental conservation.

Community and environmental leadership

Beyond academia, Prof. Raburu had extensive experience working with communities and civil society organisations.

He was the founding director of Victoria Institute for Research on Environment and Development (VIRED) International and served as national chairman of the Kenya Nile Basin Discourse Forum for five years.

He also served as regional vice chairman of the Nile Basin Discourse, covering the 10 Nile Basin countries.

His work extended to fisheries management, natural resources and environmental policy, where he contributed to the development and review of national policies and regulations.

He also served on boards of several secondary schools and institutions of higher learning, including the Kenya Wildlife Training Institute in Naivasha and Tambach Teachers Training College.

Contribution to Fisheries and Aquatic Science

Prof. Raburu was the immediate former head of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science at the University of Eldoret.

During his leadership, the department expanded its research and development activities, including donor-funded projects and partnerships.

The department also worked with the Uasin Gishu County Government to establish a fish hatchery aimed at supplying local communities with quality fish fingerlings.

Prof. Raburu’s experience in research, consultancy, project planning, management and community extension informed his appointment as Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Planning, Research and Extension.

He also undertook leadership and management training, including a diploma course in Planning and Policy Development in Iceland, transformational leadership programmes and a Strategic Leadership Programme at the Kenya School of Government.

Family mourns

News of his death has sparked mourning among his family, colleagues, students, friends and the wider University of Eldoret community.

Owino-Ong’or extended condolences to Prof. Raburu’s wife, Elizabeth, their children Jessie, Eugene, Steve and Joy, and the extended family.

He concluded his message by asking God to comfort the bereaved family, writing, “Wananenre cha e tiend Yesu.”

Prof. Raburu leaves behind a long academic and professional legacy spanning university teaching, research, environmental conservation, fisheries management, community development and institutional leadership.

Further details on funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family.