The former Maseno School and Mang’u High School Principal Paul Otula is dead.

The towering educationist, who also served as the Kenya Basketball Federation chairperson, is reported to have collapsed at his Nairobi home on Thursday, May 1, 2025, and died before his body was transferred to Lee Funeral Home.

In a statement by the Deputy Chief of Staff in the office of the president, Eliud Owalo, on Thursday, May 1, 2025, the government official conveyed his condolences to the family of Otula, noting that the death had affected the entire basketball fraternity in the country.

“It’s with deep sorrow that I have learnt of the sudden death of long-serving Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Chairman Paul Otula,” Owalo said.

Chequered career

“Otula had a chequered career as a teacher of no mean repute, principal of both Mangu High School and Maseno School, and an icon in basketball circles,” he observed.

MOURNING KBF CHAIRMAN PAUL OTULA

It’s with deep sorrow that I have learnt of the sudden death of long-serving Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Chairman Paul Otula.

Otula had a chequered career as a teacher of no mean repute; Principal of both Mangu High School and Maseno… pic.twitter.com/ZWkatG5x0z

— Eliud Owalo, FIHRM, EGH (@EliudOwalo) May 1, 2025

Adding: “At this moment of grief, I convey my condolences to his family, relatives, and friends, plus both the teaching and basketball fraternity in Kenya.”

The death comes just days after Otula met with the Director-General of Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), Daniel Bargoria, a former student of Mang’u High School, where he was a principal between 1998 and 2001.

Otula served as the principal of Maseno School for more than 15 years, from 2002 to 2017, before he was interdicted by the Teachers’ Service Commission and replaced.

Following his exit from the school, the basketball enthusiast became the principal at Nairobi’s Sunshine Secondary School between 2018 and 2021, before setting his eyes on politics.

Political ambitions

However, his bid for the Karachuonyo MP seat failed to take off after he was trounced by seasoned politicians in the area, including the area’s current MP, Adipo Okuome.

Otula still went ahead to win the chairmanship of the Kenya Basketball Federation, where he has served for consecutive terms since taking over in 2010.

An avid sportsperson, the schools he taught in excelled in rugby and basketball and represented the country at various international competitions.

During his meeting on April 27, 2025, with EPRA Director General Bargoria, the regulator indicated that their discussions centred around social development, learning and health.

“Today, I had the pleasure of receiving a courtesy call from my former principal at Mangu High School, Mr. Paul Agali Otula. We spent some time reminiscing about our shared passion for sport and leadership, as well as the great times we had during our time at Mangu,” Bargoria said as he reminisced about their days at Mang’u High School.

“While I’m a rugby enthusiast, Mr. Otula is currently serving as the Chairman of the Kenya Basketball Federation and is a die-hard basketball fan. We both agreed on the importance of promoting sports as a way of enhancing learning, health, and social development.”