Prof Chris Wanjala Dies After Short Illness

The Kenyan academia and the University of Nairobi are mourning over the sudden death of Prof Chris Lukorito Wanjala, a renowned literature lecturer and writer.

Prof Wanjala died on Monday, October 15, 2018, aged 75 while undergoing treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, his son Alex Wanjala confirmed.

The late Wanjala joined the ranks of writers and literary scholars in 1968 as a freshman at the then University College, Nairobi, and has over the years proven to be a top brain in literary criticism across East Africa and beyond.

His son Alex, also a lecturer at UoN, says his father was well and had attended a funeral at their ancestral home in Chesamis, Bungoma County during the weekend.

After the relative's funeral, Wanajala travelled to his home in Lwandeti where he was taken ill and was immediately moved to Eldoret for treatment.

"He was dashed to a hospital in Eldoret where they gave some emergency treatment and he was quite stable throughout the day. And the doctors said they would keep him there for two or three days as they carried out tests," Mr Alex told Nation.

While at the hospital, Prof Wanjala's son indicated the respected author complained of extreme chest pains and stomach pains.

Away from his work as a lecturer, Prof Wanjala was also a columnist with a literary segment in the Saturday Nation.

His most recent contribution in literature is dubbed Memories We Lost, an anthology of short stories which was chosen as a set book for secondary schools.

 

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