Former director of health services at defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services Ouma Oluga has mourned the fallen University of Nairobi lecturer Walter Odhiambo Anyango.
Odhiambo passed away on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, in Nairobi prompting an outpouring of messages of condolences.
He had been diagnosed with cancer three years earlier in 2022.
Until his demise, Odhiambo was the current Chairman of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the School of Dental Sciences, University of Nairobi.
Dr. Odhiambo and I co-sponsored a couple of bright students from struggling backgrounds to pursue medicine and dentistry.
His loss is a big blow to me and quite devastating to this community of aspiring doctors and dentists.
Go well my friend. We already miss you very dearly. pic.twitter.com/0S2bUA7AfZ
— Dr. Ouma Oluga, OGW (@fnoluga) January 29, 2025
Ouma, who serves as senior deputy director of the medical service at the Ministry of Health eulogized Odhiambo as a man committed to academic excellence.
Odhiambo’s help
The former Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General recalled Odhiambo’s help and intervention towards needy students whom they sponsored to pursue their dreams in the field of dentistry.
“Dr Odhiambo and I co-sponsored a couple of bright students from struggling backgrounds to pursue medicine and dentistry. His loss is a big blow to me and quite devastating to this community of aspiring doctors and dentists. Go well my friend. We already miss you very dearly,” Oluga stated.
He was married to Esther Nakasala and together were blessed with four children Harry, Thomas, Telnah, and Elgon.
In a lengthy tribute, Sheila Atieno Graaf also took to social media to eulogise the academician.
“Dr Walter was not just a doctor; he was a healer, a mentor, and a guiding light in the medical community. As chairman and senior lecturer of the University of Nairobi he dedicated his life to training and mentoring generations of surgeons. His work reached far beyond Kenya, as he was a respected maxillofacial surgeon whose expertise was sought in hospitals across Africa and beyond! His skilled hands and compassionate heart restored the lives of countless patients, giving hope where there was once despair,” the US-based Youth and Succession Association co-founder said.
“But beyond his professional accolades, Walter was a devoted family man. His love for his family was unwavering, and his greatest pride his daughter, who was named after his late mother.”
Odhiambo was appointed as the dean School of Dental Sciences, University of Nairobi in 2021 taking over from Regina Mutave.
He was also a senior lecturer and consultant Maxillofacial surgeon, where he actively researched in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Maxillofacial surgery is a surgical specialty that treats conditions affecting the mouth, face, jaws, and neck. It is a combination of dentistry and medicine and is sometimes called oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS).
Odhiambo’s burial is scheduled for Saturday, February 8, 2025.
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