Everett Standa: Spirit of don who "spoke for the bush" lives on

Professor Everett Standa was a respected academic and accomplished communication researcher whose hard work and passion for his profession saw him rise through the ranks to become the Vice-Chancellor of Kenyatta University. He also served the country as the CEO for Higher Education (currently the Commission for University Education).

Standa had a rare literary prowess, which led him to author several popular poems. These include I Speak for the Bush, first published in 1968, Shades of Life (1994), Wedding Eve, Should I, Should I Not, and A Pregnant School Girl, among others.

Born in 1945 in Mahanga, Webuye, Bungoma County, Standa attended Sipala Primary School before proceeding to Friends School, Kamusinga. His early academic career was spent at the University of Nairobi, Moi University, and eventually, Masinde Muliro University.

Professor Standa was also the founding principal of Western University College (WEUCO), a constituent college of Moi University, before its elevation to full university status as Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST).

He was also the founding director of Moi University’s Privately Sponsored Students Programme (PSSP).

In 2003, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Kenyatta University, a position he held until 2006. In an interview with local media about his role, Professor Standa acknowledged that being a Vice-Chancellor was "not only exciting but also an interesting career."

As Vice-Chancellor of Kenyatta University, Professor Standa made significant strides. Aside from expanding the academic programs at the university, he enhanced the institution's research capabilities and fostered international partnerships.

Standa passed away on Sunday, November 5, 2023, after a long illness. He had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016 and had been undergoing treatment.