Dr. Robert Ouko, OCI Honoree, former Foreign Minister of Kenya

OCI was created to honor the legacy of Dr. Robert Ouko by establishing and promoting a culture of reading and information literacy within the community that he represented as Minister of Parliament (MP).  Dr. Ouko recognized that literacy and access to information are essential tools for unlocking the imagination, empowering the marginalized, and bringing about social change.  Today, OCI promotes this mission in conjunction with improving the health of teachers and learners, building infrastructure to provide learning spaces, and training teachers to promote problem solving, creative thinking, and eventually economic self-sufficiency.

Robert John Ouko was born on 31st March, 1932 at Nyahera in East Kisumu Location, Kisumu district, to Erasto Seda and Susan Aloo Seda.  He received his primary education at Ogada Primary School in Kisumu District and at Nyang’ori School in Kakamega District.

After leaving primary school, he attended Siriba Teachers Training College and graduated with a Teachers Certificate. Afterwards he taught in various primary schools in his home region, also serving as Games Master, Scoutmaster, Choirmaster, and Headmaster.

In 1955, he joined the Kenya Civil Service as a Revenue Officer, based in Kisii District. While working at the district treasury, he continued to study privately through correspondence for the Cambridge School Certificate and passed with a Division Two Certificate.

He went on to qualify for admission to the then Haile Selassie University in Addis Ababa in 1958. He graduated with a degree in Public Administration, economics and Political Science in 1962, before proceeding to Makerere University for a post-graduate diploma in International Relations and Diplomacy.

Just before independence, Robert John Ouko joined the colonial civil service as an Assistant Secretary in the office of the British Governor. In 1963, he was appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, a remarkable feat back then as in just one year, he had risen to a full Permanent Secretary, in the process skipping the ranks of under-secretary and deputy secretary.

Robert John Ouko married his wife Christabel in 1965, and they went on to have seven children.

In 1969, he was posted to Arusha as Minister for Finance and Administration for the East African Community. Later he served the Community as Minister for the Common Market and Economic Affairs.

In 1971, Robert John Ouko was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) by the Pacific Lutheran University in Seattle, USA.

After the collapse of the East African Community Dr. Ouko was nominated as a Member of the Kenya Parliament and appointed as the Minister for Economic Planning and Community Affairs.

In 1979 Dr. Ouko was elected Member of Parliament for Kisumu Rural Constituency and appointed as the Minister for Foreign Affairs. He was re-elected MP for Kisumu Rural Constituency in 1983 and was appointed Minister for Labour.

While a new cabinet was constituted in 1987, he was appointed Minister of Industry. One year later, he was elected Member of Parliament for Kisumu Town Constituency, and appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, where he served until his death in February of 1990.

“Personable, intelligent, decent” was how many who worked with Dr. Ouko liked to describe him. Dr. Ouko, or Bob as his friends knew him, was a loving and devoted son to his parents, husband to his wife, father to his children, brother to his siblings, and friend and colleague to many. He was a lifelong football player and fan, and had immense interest in nature and music.