Eldoret, Kenya: Top scholar and Chancellor of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) Prof Jonathan Ole Karei has passed on.

Prof Karei collapsed at the Eldoret International Airport, just moments before his scheduled flight to Nairobi and was pronounced dead later.

His grief stricken wife Mrs Rachel Karei said the don had been driven to the airport for a flight to Nairobi and that they were shocked to learn of the sad news minutes later.

"Professor's diabetic condition had been controlled and he was well and jovial when he left for the airport," Rachel said.

She added: "He had been quite well and even watched the football world cup finals on Sunday and was okay through Monday and Tuesday. He woke up in the morning and prepared to be taken to the airport. The driver drove him and left after he had checked in".

Rachel, who is a lecturer at the University of Eldoret, said she was called later and informed that he did not take the flight but had been rushed to a local hospital.

Rachel said she later learnt that her husband had passed on.

His driver, Mr Jackson Ole Esho, said they left Elgon View home in Eldoret with Karei at 7am and the don was jovial all the way to the airport.

"I assisted him carry some bags and left him after he had checked in and drove back to pick Rachel to her place of work only to learn of the sad news later," said the driver.

Professor Karei was appointed by the former President Mwai Kibaki in January 2013 to be the first JOOUST Chancellor, a position he was holding to date.

Prior to his appointment, he had served for 30 years as the first Chief Academic Officer at Moi University.

Karei graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Political Science and History from Philander Smith College in 1963 and later obtained a Master of Arts from Atlanta University.

Between 1974 and 1977, he was a Professor of Political Science at South Carolina State University.

In 1979, Professor Karei was appointed by the governor to the South Carolina State Recognition Committee, becoming the first African ever to be appointed to the committee.

He leaves behind a widow and seven children; two daughters and five sons.