Mentor, Science Journalism Champion

Justus Wanzala

Following the passing away of Ogodo in the early hours of Thursday, 17th April 2025, in Nairobi, KENSJA, the Science journalism fraternity, journalists in Kenya, Africa and beyond were thrown into mourning. The Kenyan science journalism community has lost of one of its most dedicated champions and towering figure in science journalism.
According to family members, Ogodo had showed no signs of serious illness and had been watching the UEFA Champions League clash between Arsenal and Real Madrid. Ogodo is said to have been in high spirits, chatting with friends and sharing real-time reactions.
A trailblazer in science communication in Africa, late Ogodo was a widely respected journalist whose work elevated the role of science journalism across the continent. He began his career in the Kenyan media, writing for leading outlets including The East African Standard and Biosafety News, now defunct. His exceptional reporting soon reached a global audience through his contributions to internationally acclaimed platforms such as National Geographic, Nature Medicine, The Guardian (UK), British Medical Journal, the now-defunct IslamOnline.net and SciDev.Net, where he served for many years as Sub-Saharan Africa Editor.
In 2004, late Ogodo co-founded KENSJA alongside a group of Kenyan science journalists with the goal of promoting science communication and influencing public policy, particularly in areas such as climate change and environmental sustainability. As KENSJA’s first Chairman, he played a pivotal role in guiding the association from its formative years into one of Kenya’s leading science journalism entities.
Between 2008 and 2023, late Ogodo served on the Executive Board of the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ), where he was a passionate advocate for science journalism in the Global South. He also worked for the African Development Bank (AfDB) as a consultant for a period of one year.
Until his passing, he served as the East Africa Editor for Mongabay, a leading U.S.-based non-profit environmental news platform, where he continued to mentor young journalists and amplify critical stories about conservation and sustainability across Africa.
Late Ogodo won many prestigious awards and fellowships that equally turned him into a global trotter promoting the development of science journalism in African and the global south in general.
Apart from KENSJA members, tributes also poured in from far and wide. The KENSJA Chairman, Mr. Duncan Mboyah who happened to be a founder member of the association alongside and who has closely interacted with him for decades was saddened by his passing away. “It really saddens my heart to read that Ogodo is no more. My sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of late Ogodo. He was truly a great science writer and passionate about his work. May his soul rest in peace,” noted Mboyah. He added that Ogodo's death is a big loss to science journalism. He has died at time when he was needed most to help mentor upcoming science Journalists in the continent.
Mboyah at the same time noted that that he was a disciplined and hard-working Journalist whose leadership will be missed.
“Ogodo was a great person to work with, he would quietly guide you, as you tried to figure out how to approach a story you might have been trying to write but which could have been a challenge,” said Judith Akolo, the Deputy Chairperson of KENSJA who also worked with Ogodo at the Standard Newspapers.
Aghan Daniel, Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA) said he was in shock following the demise of his late friend Ochieng Ogodo. In a message sent on his behalf and that of MESHA he said, “This is a very sad moment that we should all use to reflect on the history, current practices and the future of science journalism not just in Kenya but in Africa and the entire world,” he said in a condolence message sent to the KENSJA Chairman.

“Once again, we are very sorry about the demise of Ogodo and may the good Lord take care of his family, friends and professional colleagues as we mourn our fallen colleague,” he stated.
Joyce Mulama, who worked with him at Standard Newspaper and the AfDB mourned late Ogodo saying that she remembers him as a friend and colleague with whom she had the privilege of working both at The Standard and the African Development Bank. “He was a gentle yet had a firm presence—always steady, always kind. His dedication, especially during the launch of flagship events at the Bank, for example, was nothing short of admirable,” she stated. Mulama added that she will never forget how he believed in her —how he gently pushed her to take on challenging tasks she would have otherwise shied away from.
“His quiet strength and unwavering support made a lasting impact on my life; may God rest him in eternal peace. His memory will live on in the lives he touched and the work he helped shape,” she added.
Fidelis Zvomuya, from Zimbabwe but practicing in South Africa, said it was a big loss for Africa’s media fraternity following the loss of Benard Ochieng Ogodo, a trailblazing science journalist and mentor. “His brilliance in storytelling and dedication to uplifting young voices will never be forgotten. Rest in power, my friend,” he said.

Ntungwe Ngalame from Eco outlook News (Camerron) said late Ogodo will be remembered not only for his distinguished journalism career but also for his humility and unwavering commitment to mentorship of upcoming science journalists. He inspired a generation of African science journalists and leaves behind a legacy rooted in integrity, service, and storytelling that bridged science and society.
The KENSJA members have not just lost a patron but a founder who believed that science journalism has a huge role in national development and that as a genre of journalism it had to claim it position in newsrooms and be conducted professionally. A mentor of many science journalists, KENSJA which he was a founder member and served as a Patron at the time of his demise is a legacy of his belief in the development of science journalism in Kenya and on the continent.
The Chairman, Executive Committee and the entire membership of KENSJA on behalf extends condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives he touched.
May his Soul Rest in Eternal Peace