World-renowned Kenyan author and professor Calestous Juma has died on Friday, December 15, 2017 in Boston at the age of 64.
Kenya’s foreign affairs minister Amina Mohamed was among the many high-profiled personalities to confirm his death on Friday afternoon.
“I have received the news of the passing on of my friend, compatriot and a role model Professor Calestous Juma, with a deep sense of great personal loss. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” she tweeted.
I have received the news of the passing on of my friend, compatriot and a role model Professor Calestous Juma, with a deep sense of great personal loss. May his soul rest in eternal peace. pic.twitter.com/hoTKXICPdD
— AMB:Amina Mohamed (@AMB_A_Mohammed) December 15, 2017
Calestous Juma was a professor of the Practice of International Development and Director of the Science, Technology, and Globalization Project at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School.
He served as Faculty Chair of the Edward S. Mason Fellows Program as well as Faculty Chair of the “Innovation for Economic Development” and “Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Africa” executive programmes before his death.
Juma occupied several international capacities and worked on several boards including the African Union’s High-Level Panel on Science, Technology and Innovation, Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, Africa Food Prize, Royal Society of London, the US National Academy of Sciences, the World Academy of Sciences, the UK Royal Academy of Engineering and the African Academy of Sciences.
He won several international awards for his work on sustainable development. He has dozens of publications in his name including a book titled: A New Culture of Innovation: Technology, Entrepreneurship and Prosperity, which he was working on before his demise.
His latest book: Innovation and Its Enemies: Why People Resist New Technologies, was published by Oxford University Press in 2016.
Calestous Juma died a week after his mother was buried. The cause of death is unknown. He is survived by a wife and a son, both living in Boston.
Below are tributes to the illustrious professor who had Africa at heart.
Sad to announce the death of Havard Professor @calestous Juma, who died in Boston.
The Kenyan professor was listed among most reputable on earth in 2017.#RIPCalestous pic.twitter.com/ytHSdC2p93
— The African Voice (@teddyeugene) December 15, 2017
Heart?broken over the passing of one of my favorite @Harvard professors, Dr. @Calestous Juma. His office was a haven for discussions on the continent and its development. He was truly a champion & advocate for #Africa. Rest well sir! You were a great mentor! pic.twitter.com/nG12ND3ZUT
— Farai Gundan (@FaraiToday) December 15, 2017
1. I have no words to eulogize Prof. Calestous Juma.He was a giant in the field of Science,technology& Sustainable Development.When I wrote my LL.B dissertation on “Transfer & Regulation of Agricultural Biotechnology in Kenya”,I heavily relied on his works
— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) December 15, 2017
Really shocked and saddened this morning to hear that Kenyan Professor @calestous has passed away. I’ll miss our exchanges about Africa, and his lively mind.
Rest In Peace my friend. 🙁
— Karen Attiah (@KarenAttiah) December 15, 2017
Incredibly sad news. @calestous took time to reply to my cold-call email and give me detailed advice about reporting about tensions in the Great Lakes and followed up to check – unprompted – several times. https://t.co/7RoTDVFZl2
— Megha Mohan (@meghamohan) December 15, 2017
To the family of Professor @calestous may God give you strength.
Sad this comes days after his mother’s funeral.
Prof couldn’t attend due to illness.
He was a great man. His legacy lives on.#RIPCalestousJuma pic.twitter.com/qdqz0EyRt5
— The African Voice (@teddyeugene) December 15, 2017
Shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Prof Calestous Juma, an African intellectual giant. He was a towering scholar and a great human being. The best of the best. Unbelievable.
— Prof Makau Mutua (@makaumutua) December 15, 2017
Rest in Power Professor Calestous Juma. Thank you for your many contributions including the discussion around innovation. https://t.co/RUr4j4envJ
— Next Einstein Forum (@NextEinsteinFor) December 15, 2017
A GREAT SON OF THE SOIL DEPARTS
Budalangi & entire the world is mourning Prof. @calestous of @Harvard ,who went to be with the Lord earlier today, he was an internationally recognised scholar & 2012,2013,2014 & 2016 African Most Influential Person. #RipGoodProfessor pic.twitter.com/ErNaBc1NlM— ALLAN NDEKWE (@AllanNdekwe) December 15, 2017
I am so deeply saddened by this news. @calestous introduced me (& so many others) to S&T policy. His impact is immeasurable but will serve as a lasting legacy. Prof, you will be so sorely missed. https://t.co/nlQp5hneDj
— Nina Dudnik (@Nina_SLabs) December 15, 2017
His tweets oozed of great knowledge and I can never recall a single moment that he failed to reply to queries. RIP Prof @calestous Juma. pic.twitter.com/ICWqhrbnCd
— Oliver Mathenge (@OliverMathenge) December 15, 2017
Shocked to hear this word of the passing of Calestous Juma. What a great lost for the community of people who care about Africa. https://t.co/on0jTCQASc
— Timothy Longman (@Timlongman) December 15, 2017
Mourning the passing away of Calestous Juma, an intellectual colossus and a brilliant Kenyan scholar at Harvard. Go well and RIP. pic.twitter.com/jAm7HY11mO
— #KamukunjiMP (@MPyusufhassan) December 15, 2017
