Tribute for Prof. Bethwell Allan Ogot

Prof Bethwell Allan Ogot took his final bow on 30th January 2025 at the ripe old age of 95. The news of his demise, was met with an outpouring of grief as well as good will. Many remember this gentleman, always impeccably groomed, confident and oozing wit and candor.

Bethwell Allan Ogot, was always clear about the spelling of his name Bethwell, as opposed to the normal Bethuel, and was a historian, teacher, professor and a founding genius. Genius because he was the first Deputy Vice Chancellor, of the University of Nairobi between 1970-1973.

At the University of Nairobi, in his early teaching career, he founded the Institute of Development Studies, a division of which later evolved into the Institute of African Studies. This was no mean feat as these institutions, conceived and established in 1965 are actually older than the University of Nairobi.

History, to this scholar, who was a  co writer  of Zamani: A Survey of East African History (edited with J.A. Kieran), among others, was the basis for decolonizing and Africanizing Kenya’s development history, by understanding the traditional values, social beliefs and behaviors as a precursor to planning practices in development.

In a career spanning 60 years, Prof Bethwell Alln Ogot has served as emeritus professor of history at Maseno University applying his extensive expertise to research and post graduate studies. Prof Ogot served at Kenyatta University, Makerere University as well as serving terms at UNESCO, where he was the President  of the  international scientific committee for the preparation of  UNESCO’s eight volume general history of Africa.

His students, in the institutions that he has served have no doubt benefited from his works: history of the Luo speaking  peoples of Eastern Africa(2009), who,if any one, owns  the past(2010), Kenyans, who are we ?(2013), history of African civilization in he Nile valley (2016) and history of Nairobi 1899-2012(2020). This is separate  from the collections of materials that Prof acquired during a tenure of  60 years teaching in different universities, He wrote at least 41 books and it is  no secret that his  home is like a masterclass of information and boasts over 10,000 books  collected over the years.

Closer home, at the University of Nairobi, Bethell Allan Ogot, and Madara, his son, researched and published the Fountain of Knowledge :History of the University of Nairobi,1952-2020. This seminal volume paved way for the University's celebration of 60 years, as a technical college and transformation into a world class university.

The adage is once a professor, always a professor. The mandate of a professor is to provide foresight and direction in institutions. It was no surprise therefore, when the late President Kibaki, introcuced concept of citizen chancellor, and  Bethwell Allan Ogot was appointed Chancellor of Maseno University, a position that he took up with  enthusiastic and assured vigor and liveliness. He served the full term to the pursuit of excellence.

It is true that Bethwell Allan Ogot is one of the greatest scholars of our history as a nation.  His legacy of seminal works and historical treatises exemplify, in the words of Hon. James Orengo “ a true thinker and intellectual per excellence.

 As we bid farewell to this scholar, eminent citizen, friend, colleague, mwalimu, and father of history in Kenya, we  leave him  to “ pass to his ancestors of the ages”. Rest in Eternal peace.