Former vice chancellor succumbs to cancer

Former Masinde Muliro University (Mmust) Vice Chancellor Barasa Wangila (pictured) is dead.

The former scholar's family told Sunday Standard that Prof Wangila succumbed to prostrate cancer at the Aga Khan hospital in Kisumu on Friday.

The deceased's brother, Tito Wangila, said he had been battling the disease since 1997.

“The first symptoms appeared in 1997 and after seeking treatment he felt better," he said.

The symptoms recurred in March last year and Wangila has been undergoing treatment until his death.

"Wangila has been a dedicated man and we thank God for the time we have shared with him,” said Tito.

The university acting Vice Chancellor Asenath Sigot eugolised Wangila as a dedicated and hard worker who served diligently. She said the former VC's death was a blow to the country.

"He will be remembered for his selfless efforts in ensuring Mmust became a fully fledged public university when he served as the VC," said Prof Sigot.

Prof Sigot worked under Wangila as Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs for more than ten years.

The former VC served as the principal of the university while it was a constituent college of Moi University and steered it until it got a full charter.

Sigot described the deceased as a humble man, a pioneer and effective leader.

Dr Lydia Anyonje, in charge of corporate communication at the university described the late don as a great scholar and a visionary leader who had the interests of the institution at heart.

“His death is a setback to the teaching fraternity, Prof Wangila strived to better our university, under his tenure, the institution achieved a lot," she said

Wangila was a distinguished scholar in Zoology and Fish Genetics from University of Manitoba in Canada.