George Magoha

George Albert Omore Magoha (2 July 1952 – 24 January 2023) was a Kenyan consultant surgeon, academic administrator and technocrat, who served as a Professor of Surgery at Maseno University's School of Medicine, in Kisumu County as from 17 January 2023 till his death.

Immediately before his last assignment, he was the Cabinet Secretary of Education in the Cabinet of Kenya, under President Uhuru Kenyatta's second term effective 26 March 2019.

Magoha was the chairman of the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), from 2016 until 2019.

Magoha previously served as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi from 2005 until 2015. He was a Professor of Surgery at the University of Nairobi's College of Health Sciences. He concurrently served as a Consultant Urologist at Kenyatta National Hospital, the teaching hospital of the university.

Early life and education Magoha was born in Kisumu on 2 July 1952. He moved in with his older brother, John Obare and his wife Agatha Christine Obare, in Nairobi, on account of his [Magoha] asthma, at a young age.

On 1 March 2019, he was nominated as the Cabinet Secretary for Education in the Kenyan Cabinet, and was sworn in on 26 March 2019, replacing Amina Mohamed, who was transferred to the Sports docket.

Death Magoha died following a suspected cardiac arrest at the Nairobi Hospital, on 24 January 2023, aged 70. He had collapsed at home before being rushed to the hospital where he later succumbed after efforts to resuscitate him were futile.

Magoha was known to be tough-talking and no-nonsense during his tenure at the Ministry of Education, where he served at the helm as a Cabinet Secretary.

Achievements Magoha was the author of a book, Tower of Transformational Leadership, published by Kenway Publications in 2017. It is an autobiographical account of his experience as a leader in various roles in medicine, surgery, academia and the community.

In his 12 year tenure at the University of the Nairobi, he served as the Chairman of the Academic Department of Surgery, Dean of the School of Medicine and Principal of the College of Health Sciences.

UoN Vice Chancellor – 2005. During his tenure he helped enhance accountability at the finance department as and the quality teaching and discipline among the students.

Chair the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) – 2016.

Succession table as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi