Former Member of Parliament (MP) and Kenyan Ambassador Professor Filemona Fundi Indire has passed away. Born in March 1930, Prof. Indire served as a nominated MP from 1983 to 1988.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi confirmed his death on Saturday, March 15, sending condolences to his family, friends, and relatives.
In his tribute, Mudavadi described the late Professor as a distinguished educationalist and intellectual with a remarkable history of achievements.
He emphasized that Prof. Indire had unwavering faith in the goodness of people and was a mentor who shaped many young minds, both as a lecturer and professor.
Mudavadi further acknowledged Prof. Indire’s pioneering role in Kenyan education, noting that he was the first Professor of Education in the country.
He played a key role in establishing Kaimosi Friends University (KAFU) and was one of the first African professors following Kenya’s independence.
Additionally, he was part of the team responsible for “Africanizing” the University of Nairobi (UON), which was the country’s sole university at the time.
“To build his stature as an academic, Prof. Indire demonstrated immense patience, perseverance, and dedication, qualities that earned him great respect,” Mudavadi said.
Prof. Indire also held significant diplomatic roles, serving as Kenya’s Ambassador to the Soviet Union (now Russia) in the 1960s during the tenure of Kenya’s first President, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
He later lectured at the University of Nairobi and chaired the National Council for Science and Technology in the 1970s.
Furthermore, he served as the Chairman of the Friends World Committee for Consultation Africa Section, a Quaker organization that fosters communication among various parts of World Quakerism.
In addition to his academic and diplomatic achievements, Prof. Indire authored several influential works, including A Comprehensive High School Curriculum Proposal for Reviewing and Revising the Program of Chavakali Secondary School, Maragoli, Kenya (1962), which focused on developing a curriculum to meet the needs of high school students in Western Kenya.
He also co-authored Secondary Level Teachers: Supply and Demand in Kenya in collaboration with John W. Hanson.
Prof. Indire was a member of the Davy Koech Commission, established in May 1998 by President Daniel Arap Moi to review Kenya’s education system.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula also paid tribute to Prof. Indire, praising his scholarly rigor, pedagogical expertise, and dedication to mentorship, which left a lasting impact on generations of educators and researchers.
“His diplomatic service as Kenya’s Ambassador to the Soviet Union, his time as a nominated MP, and his leadership of the National Council for Science and Technology all reflect his deep commitment to national development,” Wetang’ula noted.
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