Renowned Kenyan Journalist Passes Away
The news was confirmed by close associate Amos Aketch, who shared that Ogodo had been unwell but was in good spirits the day before.
TV cameras lined up, covering large public event. Photo/ICJ Kenya.
By Robert Assad
Renowned Kenyan journalist Ben Ochieng’ Ogodo has passed away. He died in the early hours of Thursday, April 17, after a brief illness.
The news was confirmed by close associate Amos Aketch, who shared that Ogodo had been unwell but was in good spirits the day before.
According to Aketch, Ogodo began experiencing intense chest pain around 2:00am while at home. His children quickly arranged transport to Mama Lucy Hospital, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Ogodo was a respected figure in journalism, widely celebrated for his contributions to science and environmental reporting. His dedication earned him the prestigious Reuters-IUCN Media Award for Excellence in Environmental Reporting in 2008.
A seasoned media and communications consultant, Ogodo served as the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Coordinator and News Editor for the UK-based Science and Development Network (SciDev.Net) from 2010 to 2022.
His impact on science journalism during this time was felt across the African continent. He also held a six-year term on the Executive Board of the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) from 2017 to 2023.
The Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) expressed deep sorrow at Ogodo’s passing. In a tribute, KEG described him as “one of Kenya’s most accomplished science journalists and editors” and commended his lifelong commitment to telling impactful stories that made science and environmental issues accessible to the public.
His work was featured in globally renowned publications such as National Geographic, Nature Medicine, The Guardian (UK), and the British Medical Journal, as well as local outlets like The Standard Media Group.
Ogodo was also the founding chairperson of the Kenya Environment and Science Journalists Association (KENSJA), where he played a pivotal role in advocating for environmental journalism in the country.
Beyond his reporting, Ogodo was a mentor to many young journalists, generously sharing his knowledge and experience from nearly three decades in the field.
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