I was breathless for minutes when I received the news of the death of Prof. Mary Lutta-Mukhebi who died on April 26, 2009. I shed tears because Prof. Lutta-Mukhebi was my mentor for almost ten years when I worked under her in the School of Human Resource Development at Moi University. She always motivated us, for she knew how to do so. I remember how she fought hard for us in the School at every level, for we over overburdened by teaching, teaching classes as big 600 to 1,000 using public address systems. I recall how she promoted over 24 members of the teaching staff to positions of lecturer from assistant lecturers despite great opposition from administrators who thought that assistant lecturers should teach for at least 5 years in one position. I spent many years gaining from her guidance as a 'mother' and Dean and will never forget the many great things she did for me and my young family in Eldoret. She did not just help me academically but also in personal issues. In 1990s, I spent weeks with her in Vihiga District conducting research sponsored by Action-Aid, on the role of women in mines and was moved by the way she sympathized with child prostitutes in the mines and how she took upon herself to pay fees for the helpless girls around the mines. We co-published the findings in two articles in a journal and a book chapter. I received pre-departure orientation lessons from Prof. Lutta-Mukhebi in 1994 when I travelled to the United States in fall of that year, for a Ford Foundation Fellowship at the University of Florida where I spent the fall semester of 1994. She encouraged me to proceed for doctoral studies.  In 2000 we attended a conference together organized by OSSREA in Dar-Es-Salaam which allowed me to see how many people knew her outside Kenya. She knew almost everyone in the Faculty of Education at the University of Dar-Es-Salaam and she received hearty hugs at every corner as I moved in toe, with her.

Prof. Lutta-Mukhebi was a beautiful and nice person. She knew how to take care of herself, always immaculately dressed and a deep sense of respect and responsibility. She always provided quality leadership and led by example. Even as she served as Dean, she maintained full load of classes and never missed a class. She chaired Faculty Board meetings very democratically and made sure that everything passed through the board, democratically. I have never seen someone so happy to see colleagues succeeding! She advised and produced perhaps the largest number of PhDs at Moi University (perhaps only behind Prof. Joshua Akong’a). She advised innumerable number of Masters Degree students. Her

I visited Dr. Lutta-Mukhebi in hospital on diverse dates between July and September, while I was in Kenya during summer break last year. She looked to be on her way to recovery. I saw her at her house at Main Campus Moi University when I returned to Kenya in November 2008. I had gone to attend a UNESCO conference in Nairobi for about 8 days, when I called her. She told me, 'Papa,  we had to talk, in person' and I obeyed and went to see her. It is now that I realize how that visit was necessary and important. There was something unusual about her on that day. She was happy but very reflective and a bit 'historical' in the manner she talked about her days in this world and her accomplishments and some of the few mistakes she thought she had made in life. I arrived at her house at 10:00 AM but left at 5:00PM because she kept talking and would not let me leave. I had never stayed in her house that late, even while I worked at Moi University. She took me to places in her house I had never been since knowing her, and was surprised by the incredible amount of information she had. She had a deep sense of history, from the many artifacts she had gathered over the years, including a winter blanket she was given as a gift in Albany in 1965. As a historian, I listened as she took me through her life story - sometimes tearing - because her story was unusual, and she had survived great odds to be a pioneer university graduate from whole of Wanga, in Western Kenya. She took me through her pictures at the mission schools she attended, her wedding, generosity of friends to her in Kenya and the United States (bachelors degree) and United Kingdom (masters degree) - to pictures taken during her Ph.D program in the US - they were all fascinating.

The human spirit is fascinatingly unbreakable when it has a strong will. Dr. Lutta-Mukhebi was always strong and determined despite all the adversity that she faced. It is fascinating to know how history likes to end on high notes - Dr. Lutta-Mukhebi was the founder Dean of the School of Human Resource Development at Moi University in 1987.  Between 1991 and 1999, she was replaced by a succession of Deans, until the rule of electing deans came back, when she rebounded in 2000. In a rather interesting manner, she had just been re-elected for her final term as Dean of the School of Human Resource Development when she died. From three members, she dies at a time when the School of Human Resource Development has over 200 faculty members and four departments as well as many programs - from bachelors to Ph.D. She had a strong fighting spirit, to live and help others even while lay sick in hospital.

I loved the fact that Michael was with his mother in hospital most of the time, together with his wife and kids. I really felt for him for she really put a lot of responsibility on him, just like any parent would do. I am lucky to have known this strong and extraordinary woman and must admit that I owe my Ph.D degree to Prof. Mary Lutta-Mukhebi who insisted on merit in nominating me for a Fulbright Scholarship against 'sharks' at Moi University who had never nominated me for any scholarship since 1992 because they thought I was not loyal enough, simply because I did not believe in paying homage to anyone. It was the first time I went for the scholarship interview and got it. She had herself a turbulent career at Moi University where she was the epitome of honesty and hard work, but was forced to fight against all forms of discrimination. She was passed over by younger scholars in promotions to positions of Deputy Vice-Chancellor because she believed in working hard and not on 'knowing people' or 'technical know-who' as she described and joked about those who climbed the ladder based on social contacts. We will miss her, but our memories together will remain.

May God rest her soul in eternal peace.

Maurice.