Prof Okoth's passing, leaves many beyond literature and Rusinga with a sense of emptiness

Prof Okoth Okombo

About three months ago, I bumped into Prof Okoth Okombo outside Taifa Hall at the University of Nairobi. After the customary niceties, he excused himself, saying he had an important paper to print and read. “I prefer the hard copy to reading from screens,” he said.

“Screens treat the material you are reading almost as if it is your mother-in-law. You are not supposed to criticise it in any way. I like to write my own thoughts in the margins. That is why I buy my own books. Some people complain that I spoil the books, why can’t they buy their own copies?”