US-Based Kenyan Scholar Dies of Covid-19 in Minnesota

A 69-year-old United States-based scholar has become the latest Kenyan in the diaspora to die from Covid-19.

Thomas Nyambane of Minnesota succumbed to the disease while undergoing treatment at a local hospital on Sunday, May 17th.

Nyambane, a retired professor, was a leader of the Kenyan community in Minnesota and is the first Kenyan reported to have died of Covid-19 in that state, according to an obituary published on Mshale newspaper.

“He had a very generous heart to everyone, and it did not matter who or where you came from and whether you were a kid or a grownup,” Nyambane’s eldest son, Cyprian Kambuni told Mshale.

Nyambane’s friend, Daniel Monari said “he loved working for Kenyans, loved to be involved, loved to serve the community — not seeing himself as a leader, but as an uniter of us all.” 

The deceased moved to the US in the 1980s where he earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas and also held two Master's degrees and a doctorate in philosophy from universities in Minnesota.

He worked as a lecturer at Hennepin Technical College in Minneapolis for many years before he proceeded on retirement.

Kambuni said his father was vulnerable to Covid-19 because he had an underlying condition of diabetes. The family is trying to honor his wish of being laid to rest in Kenya but the ban on international flights is complicating their plans.

He is survived by his Alice Nyambane and son.

On May 13th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced 30 Kenyans, a majority in the US, had succumbed to Covid-19 abroad. A total of 193 Kenyans had been infected with the virus in foreign countries at the time.