Renowned Kenyan Scholar Collapses And Dies

Celebrated Kenyan scholar and researcher Professor Kawango Agot is dead, the family has confirmed.

Professor Kawango reportedly passed away on Saturday, August 17 evening after collapsing at an airport.

She is the founder director and CEO of Impact Research and Development Organization, with over 20 years’ experience in biomedical, epidemiological and behavioral research that helped shape the trajectory of HIV prevention in Kenya and beyond.

Agot has conducted multiple studies on various topics, including pre-exposure prophylaxis, multipurpose technologies, HIV self-testing, optimizing HIV care outcomes among adolescents and young adults living with HIV, and improving savings as a strategy to reduce spending on transactional sex and alcohol, among others.

She is also the founder of the  Nyanza Initiative for Girls Education and Empowerment (NIGEE) an organization that funds girls who dropped out of school due to pregnancy, early marriage, or female genital mutilation to return to school.

Professor Agot had a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Nairobi and an MPhil from Moi University. She then obtained her PhD and MPH concurrently from the University of Washington, Seattle.

During her long career, Agot collaborated with local and international partners to implement nearly 60 research studies and programs across more than 20 counties.