Prof. George Magoha collapsed at his Nairobi home at around 5pm on Tuesday, January 24, and was taken to the Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Magoha died at the age of 71.
His friend Prof. Walter Mwanda, who is a medical doctor at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), said at the Lee Funeral Home on Tuesday night that he received a call from Dr. Barbara Magoha, the widow of the former Education Cabinet Secretary, informing him that Prof. Magoha needed urgent medical attention.
Mwanda said he rushed to the ex-minister’s Nairobi home, and together with his (Magoha’s) family members, they took him to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Below is Mwanda’s narration as told to journalists outside the Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi, where Magoha’s body was moved.
“This evening, I received a call from Dr. Barbara Mgoha, the widow of Prof. George Magoha, my friend.
“I was at a clinic at the Kenyatta National Hospital seeing a patient. Upon receiving Dr. Barbara’s call, I called a colleague to take over [my doctor duties].
“I rushed to my car, and as I was driving, away from the KNH, about four kilometres, she (Dr. Barbara Magoha) called again and asked me whether I had a blood pressure machine. I told her I would get one.
“I rushed back to my clinic and got a blood pressure machine.
“As I was about four kilometres to Magoha’s home, his wife sent me an SMS and asked me to get an ambulance.
“I was too close to their home. At the time, there was heavy traffic. Nonetheless, I managed to drive to Magoha’s home.
“At the gate, I met some attendants, who ushered me in.
“I also met his son [Dr. Michael Magoha] at the door. He took me to where Magoha was.
“He was seated. He greeted me and said ‘oh, you have come’. [I told him yes]. I then began taking his blood pressure [reading]. It wasn’t recording. At that time, he slipped off from his sitting position.
“We immediately carried him to his waiting car. His wife and my driver followed his car. They were ahead of us by about 200 metres. They, however, reached at the Nairobi Hospital about ten minutes earlier than us.
“From the information that we have received, he had what we call a collapse. He was resuscitated back by his son, who is a medical doctor.
“One hundred metres to the casualty wing of the Nairobi Hospital, he collapsed again. He was rushed to the casualty ward. Attempts were made to resuscitate him, but the doctors were unable to revive him.
“[It appears] he was waiting for me [to see him before his untimely demise] because he had [recently] told me some things about his personal life.”
Confirming his death on Tuesday evening, the CEO of Nairobi Hospital James Nyamongo said in a statement: “It is with great regret that we announce the sudden and untimely demise of Prof. George Maoha this evening at the Nairobi Hospital.”
A member of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Cabinet told The Standard in confidence on Tuesday evening that the former minister had been ailing, and would occasionally be excused from Cabinet meetings.
Prof. Magoha is survived by his spouse Dr. Barbara Magoha and his son Dr. Michael Magoha.
The former minister’s younger brother Prof. Richard Nyabera Magoha also passed away on December 6, 2022.
Prof. Nyabera, a father of three, was based in Texas, USA at the time of his death.
