Shinning even in death: Ken Okoth's music project gifted Ksh 50m

24 March 2022

• The later Kibra MP Ken Okoth was part of the St. Lawrence University's group dubbed Singing Saints and Laurentian Singers

• Okoth's long-lasting impact on the St. Lawrence University community has seen a music project named after him at the US-based St. Lawrence University.

Almost four years after the passing of former Kibera MP Ken Okoth, his life has been honoured by an anonymous well-wisher.

He passed away in July 2019 after battling cancer.

However, Okoth's long-lasting impact on the St. Lawrence University community has seen a music project named after him at the US-based St. Lawrence University.

The president of the institution Kathryn A. Morris announced that an anonymous Laurentian has made a gift of Ksh 50m to create the Ken Okoth ’01 Black American Music Project.

Okoth was part of the university's group dubbed Singing Saints and Laurentian Singers

He later served on the St. Lawrence University Board of Trustees as a McCurdy-Sprague Trustee.

The gift is made in support of the St. Lawrence University Black Laurentian Initiative's efforts to promote a greater understanding and celebration of Black Americans.

“This gift is a wonderful way to support the goals of the Black Laurentian Initiative, celebrate the important role of Black music in our cultural heritage and history, and honor the memory and impact of a beloved member of our community,” said President Morris at a reception in Nairobi, Kenya, where she is visiting St. Lawrence University’s Kenya Semester Program.

Okoth’s wife Monica and brother Jeff were present for the announcement.

The project bearing his name will highlight Black music history, and styles, such as blues and jazz.

The program is expected to start in September of 2022.