Prof Ali Mazrui was truly a man of the people

The death of Ali Mazrui has brought to an abrupt end a journey of exemplary service to humanity by one of the greatest sons this nation has produced. Prof Mazrui was celebrated globally as one of the best professors of African and Islamic Studies.

This was a man who had it all, yet remained purposeful, selfless and humble. He did not at any point of his illustrious academic career allow the great power of his mind, the wide and important global networks he had built or even the great history of his family to dictate how he related with the world.

He remained one with the people and used these great strengths to serve everyone. Whether you were a black African or an Arabic African, European or American, Muslim or Christian, Prof Mazrui was able to find time for you.

He wanted the best for humanity across the world.

Though Kenyan, Prof Mazrui was a global citizen.

I fondly remember how he so easily and freely connected with the staff at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) during his call of duty as Chancellor. It is during his time as Chancellor that JKUAT was inspired to open a campus in Mombasa.

He wanted his people to get good education and he wanted to give them this opportunity many times during his lifetime.

Indeed, during the inauguration of the campus, Prof Mazrui flew into the country purposely to cut the ribbon and, in effect, open a new door of higher education for the Coastal people.

In his speech that day he expressed deep gratitude to my Vice Chancellor Prof Mabel Imbuga and the then Chairman of Council Adan Mohammed (Now Cabinet Secretary) for making the decision to open a campus in Mombasa.

Never mind that he was their boss. That was the level of humility that this great man exhibited.

It will be remembered that it is during his time as Chancellor of JKUAT that Technical University of Mombasa under the mentorship of JKUAT also blossomed into a university

During his life, Prof Mazrui became literally everything an academician wishes to be.

In his early years of service, Prof Mazrui served at the Makerere University as head of the Department of Political Science, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences as well as Dean of the Faculty of Law.

He also served as professor of Political Science and Director of the Centre for Afro-American and African Studies at The University of Michigan.

Before his death Prof Mazrui scored several firsts. Just before his death he served as an Albert Schweitzer Professor in the Humanities and Director of the Institute of Global Cultural Studies at Binghamton University, in New York.

Prof Mazrui has lectured in five continents.

During his life, Prof Mazrui taught us a great lesson.

He taught us to belong to religions but to love those who belonged to other religions as well; to belong to tribes, but to respect those who belonged to other tribes; and to belong to nations but to serve humanity regardless of their nationality.

He taught us to be unique but diverse.

As we lay him to rest, may this lesson resonate with each one of us.

May his life inspire the genesis of healing the differences that now exist in the world. Rest in eternal peace Professor.