Professor Juma's kin termed the death as huge blow

Roselyda Nanjala sitting outside her brother's house Professor Calestous Juma in Bunyala

The family of Harvard scholar Prof Calestous Juma has spoken of their difficulty in coming to terms with his death.

Her sister, Roselyda Nanjala, termed the death as a huge blow to the family.

Ms Nanjala told the Sunday Standard that the family was informed of the death by Prof Juma on Friday by his wife, Alison. “She (Alison) called and broke the sad news of our brother’s death. He died peacefuly,” said Nanjala.

Prof Juma had come visiting the family and to check on his ailing mother Clementina at their ancestral home in Budalang’í in August. 

The renowned scholar had been ailing in the months leading up to his death. In 2016, he underwent spinal cord surgery and in October the same year, there was a repeat operation on his neck.  “The wounds took long to heal due to tumour operations he had had before,” Nanjala recounted.

The family has been hit hard following their mother’s death in late November, leading to her burial on December 2. Juma, who was undergoing medication, could not attend the burial after doctors restricted him from travelling.

He, however, dispatched his son Erick Juma, 19, to represent him. “More often we could text each other and chat, he was such a jovial and friendly person,” said Nanjala. Three days before he died, Prof Juma had informed his sister about his deteriorating health. “He encouraged me to remain optimistic and positive regardless of whatever would happen and trust in God.”

A message he sent Nanjala reads in part: “Over the last two weeks, my health has deteriorated and now benefiting from hospice services which are being provided at home.” He continued: “I am also getting support from Alison and Erick. At this stage, the best is to remain positive while God takes over to guide the journey.”

On Friday, a sombre mood had engulfed Prof Juma’s Bunyala rural home in Budalang’i as relatives embarked on burial arrangements. Prof Juma enjoyed boat riding and would always spare time to take a ride in Lake Victoria whenever he visited the village.

When he visited in August, boat riding was among leisure activities in his itinerary.

And since the fallen professor cherished seeing the sun set from a vantage position in his compound located strategically on the shores of Lake Victoria, the family is of the view that his grave must face west.

“He build a house near the lake so that he could watch the sunrise and sunset from home,” Nanjala said.

According to her, Prof Juma had affirmed to that. “While alive, he made it known to everyone that he would wish his grave to face the direction where the sun sets”. 

She further disclosed that the late professor had good vision for the Bunyala region but some of the projects he was to initiate failed to take off due to what she termed as bad political climate. 

The late Prof Calestous Juma

Prof Juma was to start an institute in Bunyala in honour of his late mother.

The institute, according to Nanjala, was to be called John and Clementina Institute of Science and Technology (JIST), in honour of his parents and to offer training to the youth.  Prof Juma said this was to be in memory of his mother, who was passionate about education for the youth. He had already asked his sister to get in touch and see how the idea can be smoothly implemented. 

Last month, Prof Juma had shared plans for the institute with Sunday Standard Managing Editor John Bundotich, who was a close friend.

Prof Juma had explained to him that his friends were enthusiastic about his plans on the institution and one of them had pledged to offer a contribution of $10,000.

“We are calling it the John and Clementina Juma Institute of Science and Technology (JIST),” reads one of the chats Juma had with Bundotich.

“The country has lost such a brilliant mind who had noble plans for his motherland. His absence will be felt not only in Kenya but globally,” he said.

The family said tentatively, they expected the body to be flown to the country from the US on January 3.

“As we implement our family legacy plans, maybe you could give a call to Peter Wanyama (his lawyer) to update him on the latest as I am operating on diminished energy levels,” read another message from Juma to his sister Nanjala. 

The body would then be taken to Bunyala on January 5 ahead of burial the following day.  Born to a family of 14, all other siblings have died leaving only Nanjala. Former Budalang’i MP John Osogo said it will take time for Kenya to get somebody who can fit into the scholar’s shoes.

He said Juma was the only student who got Division One at John Osogo secondary school, a record that is yet to be marched.

“He was bright and enjoyed rare international repute. We had hoped he would recover and come back as he had promised to condole with us after losing his mother. Unfortunately he is no more,” said Osogo.