Mudavadi mourns renowned educationist Filemona Fundi Indire
By Arnold Ngure, March 15, 2025Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has mourned the late Professor Filemona Fundi Indire, who died aged 95 years old.
In a statement on Saturday, March 15, 2025, Mudavadi mourned the late educationist as a pioneer scholar who helped to shape the education system in the country into what it is now.
“Kindly receive my heartfelt condolences following the departure of the beloved late Prof. Filemona Fundi Indire. May God comfort all of us in this difficult period,” Mudavadi said.
“I have known Indire as a thoroughbred educationalist and intellectual—one with a long history of firsts. Other than being among the first few African professors after Kenya’s independence, he was the first professor of education in Kenya and among the pioneer lecturers who were tasked with Africanizing the then-only University of Nairobi (UON). He would later spearhead the establishment of Kaimosi Friends University (KAFU).”
First education professor
Regarded as one of the few professors Kenya had at independence, Mudavadi gave a glowing tribute to the late don, whom he described as a mentor to several people in the society, including lecturers.
“To grow his stature as an academician, Prof. Indire displayed the virtues of patience; one with the perseverance of an eagle, dedicated and passionate. He had unlimited faith in the goodness of people. A mentor who grew young minds as a lecturer and, as a professor, inducted many into university lectures,” Mudavadi added.
While Indire contributed immensely to the growth of the education system of Kenya through his writings, he also became one of the first nominated MPs from Vihiga. He also served in various other capacities.
First nominated Vihiga MP
“Indire remains the first nominated Member of Parliament (1983-1988) in the history of Vihiga County. Before that he was Kenya’s ambassador to the then-Soviet Union in the 1960s.
“In the 1970s, he was the Chairman of Kenya’s National Council for Science and Technology, and as a man of faith, he was Chairman of the Friend’s World Committee for Consultation Africa Section, a Quaker organization that works to communicate between all parts of World Quakerism,” Mudavadi remarked.
Adding: “Away from public life, the professor was a responsible son, brother, husband, father, uncle and friend for whom the recurring themes in the eulogies extol a caring, loving and kind person.”
“We pray that his soul rests in Eternal Peace. May we find comfort in the profound impact he made on so many lives, Mudavadi noted.