Professor Raphael J. Njoroge has passed on after a short struggle with cancer. He was 75 years. Professor Njoroge was teaching at the Worcester Consortium of Colleges in the Boston area, including Quinsigamond College, Worcester State University, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). He was also a founding member of the Kenya University Project that is ongoing with a goal to build a new university in Kenya, East Africa.
Professor Raphael Njoroge received his education in Kenya, Canada and the United States from 1959 to 1967, earning his PhD from the University in Nairobi. His academic credentials include the following:
B.A., Social Sciences and Philosophy, St Mary’s, Canada
M.A., Economics and Accounting, Seattle University, Seattle, Washington State, U.S.A.
Ph.L. (Licentiate in Philosophy) St. Michael’s Institute, Spokane, Washington State, U.S.A.
M.A., Philosophy Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington State, U.S.A.
Ph.D., Philosophy University of Nairobi, Republic of Kenya
His professional career spans from 1968 until his demise—teaching in high schools and universities in both Kenya and U.S.:
1968: He taught in Zambia after coming from Canada
1969: Kanunga High School headmaster
1970-1975: Mangu High School headmaster. He was the first African headmaster. As the school’s headmaster he moved Mangu High School to the current site along Thika Road.
1975-1978: University of Nairobi. He joined as a Lecturer and became part of the Faculty of Education and taught educational foundation.
1978-1992: Kenyatta College and University. He was as a Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor and Full Professor. He became Chairman of the Department of Educational Foundations, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Director of the Bureau of Educational Research. He was also involved in the formulation of the statutes that made Kenyatta University College a full-fledged university in 1985.
Professor Njoroge was appointed in 1985 and was a founding Commissioner on the Commission for Higher Education, presently called the Commission for University Education.
In 1994 he relocated to the U.S. and was part of the faculty of the following six institutions.
- Coppin State University in Baltimore, Maryland
- The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts
- Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts as a visiting scholar
- Quinsigamond College in Worcester, Massachusetts
- Worcester State University in Worcester, Massachusetts
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts
Professor Njoroge also contributed in the education sector through writing books. He wrote 7 books:
- 2005: Africa: The Next Decade. (With Arthur Gerstenfeld) New Canaan, Connecticut: Business Books International.
- 2004: International Business and Education: A Focus on Africa and United States. (With Arthur Gerstenfeld) Transglobal Literacy Inc.
- 2004: Education for Renaissance in Africa, Trafford Publishing, B.C. Canada.
- 2000: Philosophy and Education in Africa (Fourth Re-Print), (With G. A. Bennaars) Transafrica Press,1998.
- 1990: Philosophy and Education for Liberation and Creativity, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, 1990 (Professorial Inaugural Lecture).
- 1986: Social Education and Ethics (Book II) (With G. Bennaars) Transafrica Press.
- 1985: Social Education and Ethics (Book I) (With G. Bennaars) Transafrica Press.
Professor Njoroge’s memorial service will be held on Sunday, 30 November 2014 in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is survived by his beloved wife Lucy and his children Maggie, John, Mumbi, Mungai, Mwicigi and Muthoni. May our Almighty God rest his soul in everlasting peace.
To pass condolences to the family and for more details, call:
Mbugua Mburu on 508-725-4769 or Dominic Mungai on 508-869-3421
