The University of Nairobi Mourns Prof. Peter K’Obonyo: A Scholar, Mentor, and Gentle Giant
The University of Nairobi has lost one of its most revered scholars. Professor Emeritus Peter Owoko K’Obonyo. Prof. K’Obonyo’s career spanned more than four decades of unwavering dedication to scholarship and mentorship.
Prof. K’Obonyo, 72, began his academic journey at Makerere University, where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1976, before pursuing an MBA at the University of Nairobi in 1980 and later a PhD in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina in 1992. He joined the University of Nairobi as a lecturer in the Department of Business Administration in 1982. His tenure was marked by visionary leadership—serving as Chair of Department of Business Administration, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce, Coordinator of Doctoral Studies, and Deputy Principal of the then College of Humanities and Social Sciences—where he oversaw the growth of postgraduate programmes and revenue streams that now define the School of Business’s success. A strategic thinker, he played a central role in establishing module two programmes and designing the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences doctoral curriculum.
His scholarly output, including journal papers on strategic planning, human resource management, and organizational performance in journals such as the East African Management Review and the International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, cemented his reputation as a thought leader in African management studies.
Beyond academia, he chaired national taskforces, reviewed curricula for universities across East Africa, and was a sought-after consultant in performance management and strategic planning.
Yet, colleagues and students remember Prof. K’Obonyo not only for his intellectual rigor but for a warmth that transcended titles. You would often find him at Arziki Restaurant, he preferred a specific table by the window—always surrounded by thesis drafts, student files, and a cup of tea. If you were searching for guidance, that’s where you found him, ready with a story, a chuckle, and profound advice.
Peers speak of his integrity and calm guidance during Faculty Management meetings; juniors cherish his unassuming demeanor and the respect he had for everyone. His students remember him not just for his rigorous supervision—having guided hundreds through MBA and over 20 PhDs—but also for his patience, humility, and deep baritone that filled lecture halls.
In tribute messages flooding social media, alumni write of a “giant who bestrode the School of Business like a colossus” and a “mentor who always had time for counselling.” His door was always open; his belief in people was unwavering." "His voice shaped policy. His wisdom shaped lives." wrote one mourner.
As we mourn Prof. Emeritus K’Obonyo, we celebrate a life woven into the very fabric of this university; one defined by service, scholarship, and genuine care. We honor a man whose legacy will remain etched in the corridors of education, policy, and human development.
“May his gentle spirit find eternal rest. May his life continue to teach.”
Prof. Emeritus Peter K’Obonyo
(25 November 1952 – 22nd July 2025)
