Dr Stanley Kemboi, a Senior Clinician and Head of the Non-Communicable Disease Centre at Kericho County Referral Hospital, was on Tuesday laid to rest at Kaulia Village in Chilchila Ward, Kipkelion West Sub-County.
Family members, colleagues from the medical fraternity, community leaders and residents gathered at his home to bid farewell to the clinician, whose death has been described by the County Government of Kericho as a loss to the health sector.
The burial was attended by Kericho Governor Dr Erick Mutai, who led county leaders in mourning the late clinician and conveyed condolences to his family on behalf of the County Government and the people of Kericho.
The Governor joined members of the family and other mourners in paying their final respects to Kemboi, who had served in the county health system.
Kemboi died following a road accident, according to the County Government of Kericho, which announced his death on Sept. 29.
The county described him as a devoted husband, loving father, son and dedicated colleague who served residents with commitment, compassion and professionalism. A night vigil was held at his home ahead of the funeral service.
During the burial, Kemboi was remembered for his service to patients and his contribution to the management and prevention of non-communicable diseases in Kericho County.
The County Government said his dedication to his patients and colleagues had earned him respect within the medical fraternity and the wider community. His death has left a gap among health workers, patients and residents who interacted with him through his work.
Kemboi had also been actively involved in public health education on non-communicable diseases. In May 2024, he told the Kenya News Agency that more than 11,000 people in Kericho County were living with hypertension, while about 6,000 had both hypertension and diabetes. He stressed the importance of early detection and regular monitoring in managing high blood pressure.
In the same year, Kemboi provided information on the changing asthma burden in Kericho County, saying severe asthma cases had declined from 15,380 in 2020 to 11,119 in 2023, representing a 27.7 per cent decrease. He attributed part of the decline to reduced air pollution and respiratory infections during the COVID-19 period. He also called for greater awareness among people living with asthma and their families to improve disease management.
His work in non-communicable disease prevention also extended beyond hospital services. In June 2025, Kemboi served as one of the facilitators during a Staff Wellness Day at the University of Kabianga, where he addressed staff on the prevention and management conditions including mental health, cancers, hypertension and diabetes. The university identified him as the Kericho County NCD Coordinator at the time.
At the University of Kabianga event, Kemboi and another health official provided information on risk factors, disease prevention and management strategies for various non-communicable diseases. The programme was aimed at equipping university staff with knowledge on maintaining their health and preventing the burden of chronic diseases. His participation demonstrated his involvement in health awareness activities outside the county referral hospital.
Kemboi had also spoken publicly about asthma as part of efforts to educate residents on the condition. In an interview with KNA in 2024, he explained that asthma symptoms can vary in frequency and severity and advised affected people to identify and avoid triggers where possible. He cited smoke, fumes, viral infections, pollen, weather changes, animal fur and strong fragrances among factors that can trigger asthma symptoms.
The clinician’s public health work came at a time when county health officials were encouraging residents to seek early screening for chronic conditions. During a hypertension screening exercise in Soin-Sigowet in May 2024, Kemboi said early detection and control were important because uncontrolled hypertension can lead to complications including heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure. He described regular screening as an important part of hypertension management.
At his burial, mourners eulogized Kemboi as a clinician who put his patients first and carried out his duties with commitment and professionalism. His colleagues and community members joined the family in mourning a health worker whose career included clinical service, disease prevention and public health education. The County Government said his contribution would be remembered by his patients, colleagues and the wider Kericho community.
The occasion brought together the medical fraternity, members of the Kalya family, local residents and leaders at Kaulia Village, where Kemboi was given his final send-off. The gathering followed a fundraising event that had been scheduled at his home on Sept. 25 to support his family after his death. The county had urged residents and colleagues to stand with his wife, children and the wider family during the period of mourning.
The deceased leaves behind his family, colleagues and patients who mourn his death, while the county health sector remembers his contribution to healthcare and public health education.
by Humphrey Edwin
