Harriet Scott, daughter of University of Eldoret academic Professor Violet Kadenyeka Mugalavai, has shared a deeply moving tribute on Facebook after her mother passed away on September 17, 2026, describing the loss as “tragic and unfathomable.”
Harriet Scott, daughter of University of Eldoret academic Professor Violet Kadenyeka Mugalavai, has shared a deeply moving tribute on Facebook after her mother passed away on September 17, 2026, describing the loss as “tragic and unfathomable.”
When did Professor Mugalavai die?
Professor Mugalavai died at 1:26 am following a cardiac arrest while on life support.
Her death came after a battle with illness that had persisted for several years, during which she reportedly fought on with remarkable courage.
The professor was admitted to St Luke’s Hospital on September 9, 2026, after experiencing difficulty in breathing.
She was initially placed in the High Dependency Unit before her condition appeared to stabilise.
Professor Mugalavai moved to private room
By Sunday, September 14, she had been moved to a private room, where she ate chicken stew and rice — a sign that lifted her family’s spirits considerably.
Harriet recalled that her mother seemed to be turning a corner. Her skin was glowing, she was conversing normally and issuing her characteristic instructions.
That evening, Harriet brushed her mother’s hair, applied lip gloss on her lips, and said goodnight, expecting a discharge within days.
Professor Mugalavai’s organs shut down
By the following morning, however, Professor Mugalavai had been moved back to the HDU and then into intensive care.
Her organs began shutting down, and despite a large team of doctors and what Harriet described as “prayer warriors” working through the crisis, she could not be saved.
In her Facebook post, Harriet described the relationship she shared with her mother in terms that went far beyond the ordinary.
Who was Professor Mugalavai?
She portrayed Professor Mugalavai not only as a parent but as a teacher, mentor, confidant, protector and friend.
“It has been a privilege to know the love of a mother. A love so supreme, a love so infinite,” Harriet wrote.
She added that she could see her mother’s reflection in herself, describing it as a permanent imprint left behind. Harriet’s last promise to late mum
“I look at myself and I shudder when I see your reflection in me,” she wrote, signing off with a promise to reunite with her in spirit.
Harriet also noted that her mother’s passing brought her full circle, expressing hope that Professor Mugalavai would be reunited in spirit with her late father, whom she referred to as the professor’s “first love.”
Professor Violet Kadenyeka Mugalavai is remembered by her family as a woman of grace, intellect and boundless love.
