We have lost one of the true pioneers in environmental law, a fountain of deep knowledge and inspiration and a most respected colleague. The legacy of Prof. Okidis’ impressive academic work is not only a long range of publications but also by the many students and colleagues he mentored and inspired. Prof Okidis’ concerned interest in developing environmental law and policy and his devoted and innovative initiative to develop CASELAP as transdisciplinary center for building and sharing knowledge in environmental governance, will continue to guide and inspire us to achieve a more sustainable development.

I feel privileged for the invitation of Prof Okidi to develop the collaboration between CASELAP and the University of Gothenburg. It has given our institutions the possibility of mutual learning and for me personally valuable insights and inspiration for developing transdisciplinary collaborations.

Warmest wishes and thoughts to his family, friends and colleagues.

Rest in power and peace Professor Charles Odidi Okidi

My brother,
You will be greatly missed as one if Africa's original thinkers and pro-active practical academic. Your contribution to Kenya and Africa remain unparalleled.You are a loss not just to the university and country but to the world of generosity of spirit, kindness and the epitomy of humanity.At a personal level, I have benefited from your counsel and guidance. Lunch at the the Senior Common Room, the climax of my yearly home visits from the diaspora, will never be the same without you. Worse still, covid ensured that we did not see each other in the last 24 months of your life with us. As you know there was alot we had planned to do especially during your retirement, but it was not to be.May your soul RIP my brother.
Prof.Ademun-Odeke
Southampton
25/04/2021

PROFESSOR CHARLES OKIDI: A GREAT HUMAN BEING
In December 2012, I lost my daughter. As a newly hired tutorial fellow, I had barely known Professor Charles Okidi. But Professor looked for my number and contacted me—"we bear mortals what can we do?” he ended his message. Later after burial Professor Okidi created time and invited me to talk about my loss, “Liz I do not know why your loss affected me so much” he commented. “Why would such a busy Professor care that I am grieving?” I kept asking. My conclusion: Professor was a great human being with a special heart. Several years later, I was struggling constructing water tank for my farm and things were not moving as I had planned, I complained to Professor about the rainy season that had ended and I didn’t have water, and he listened patiently until I was done, then “Is that the last rainy season?” he asked. That question addressed all my complaints. I embarked on the project and when I harvested the tomatoes and onions, I brought them for Professor to bless. Professor shared the idea of Integrity Schools with me and invited me to be a shareholder, I joined and even went to visit the school site in 2015. What a great vision! I pray that Integrity Community will regroup (after this) so that we can move this vision forward. In 2018, when Professor was writing his memoir, I was thrilled, I told him that I too was planning to write mine and that I was counting on him to hold my hands. On January 18th 2021, we (Dr John Otieno and me), went to see Professor in his office where he jovially autographed our copies of his memoir and we laughed and took photos, I didn’t know it would be my last time seeing Professor Okidi. Professor, you were a true mentor, in you I had a dad at the University. Thank you for mentoring us, I will miss your guidance forever. Rest In Peace. Dr Elizabeth Owiti

Thank you Prof Okidi for your kindness and support to all who sought your guidance. Your support in my post graduate studies is something I will never forget. Constant reviews and references. I am most grateful for your support.
Your scholarly contribution is something all Kenyans are proud of.
Rest In Peace Mwalimu.

This is a message from Prof. John Ntambirweki from Uganda: I heard with much sadness of the passing away of my dear friend and professor. Prof. Charles Okidi was an exemplary man, one of a kind, hardworking, and very intelligent. He will be remembered as an original thinker and a pioneer of the law of natural resources and the environment in Africa. We, as his students, will miss him dearly and we thank God that many of us had the chance to be tutored and guided by him personally. My family and I thank God for his family which allowed him the time to do great service of guiding us and making us who we are alongside other great men who taught us at the University of Nairobi. Our deep condolences to the dear wife and the family. May God strengthen you to deal with this loss. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

I had the privilege of being the very last PhD candidate under your supervision before you retired. I will always remember you as a deep fountain of knowledge, generous of heart, keen to the very last detail, strickler for time humble in demeanour and yet a lover of finer things in life. Rest in peace Prof, assured that your legacy lives on.

A more rigorous intellectual task master, guide and mentor I had not encountered before, nor after, my tour of study with Professor Odidi Okidi as my environmental law teacher and thesis supervisor. A giant of excellence not many, certainly not I, could ever equal. Professor, Big Brother, your example helped fire an aspiration to emulate which has profoundly fueled my own discrete steps and the outcomes they have yielded. You have now completed your mortal journey in a triumph of accomplishments not even death will ever efface. Go thee well. For Doreen and all the Doyen's family, my deepest condolences for a great loss, and may God visit you with all the strength and fortitude you will need as you move on. Stay blessed.

I first met Prof. Okidi in 1979/80 when he pioneered the teaching of Environmental Law in the Master of Laws (LL.M) Degree Programme at the then Faculty of Law, University of Nairobi. I was one of his students. He was later to become my academic father and mentor.

For the 42 years I knew him, he was the indefatigable Professor. He was a perfectionist workaholic for whom nothing was too hard to achieve. He was a born achiever who had no time for excuses or negatives; he was always focused on the positive and on success.

Although he has physically transitioned to eternity, he is alive in the hearts of those that he touched. I personally owe much of what I am to his moulding. I thank God for allowing me the opportunity to share in the life of the Professor.

To the family, may God wipe your tears and grant you the fortitude to bear the absence of Professor. Do not lose faith nor hope! We will meet Professor at the beautiful shore when our time comes to transition to our eternal home.

Fare thee well, Prof. Okidi. Towering academic to the very end. Grateful for your wise counsel when I last met you.

Professor Okidi - you will be sorely missed, a champion for the environment and an amazing human being who touched the lives of all he knew or met. RIP.

As a student at CASELAP, Prof Okidi taught us International Environmental Law in a way that summed up everything about the environment. He vividly took us step by step from the trail smelter case to the International watercourses convention of 1997.This, he did so fatherly that it cemented my interest in Environmental Law. You taught me and im forever grateful .

Kitipa Naikumi
Advocate

Prof.Okidi
You are an inspiration to many of us.
You have helped us walk
In the direction of our dreams
Never losing hope,always resilient

You have been a mentor
Guiding us through rough paths
Adversity and pain
Urging us to never,ever give up
For there is always
  A better tomorrow

You constantly reminded us
That what a mind can conceive
Is ultimately achievable

You spoke for the Environment
A clean environment
   For this generation
And the future ones

Go well
Your spirit lives on

We hold that firm belief
That the ideals you held dear
Will come to fruition.
You will remain in our minds
Now
And in the days to come
Until we meet again.

-Dr.Kariuki Muigua PhD,FCIarb

I first interacted with Prof Okidi in 2000 when I finished my first graduate degree in Environmental law and looking to come back home and hoping to work in the UN. Between him and Prof. Situma they convinced me to return to their alma mater Fletcher School to persue a Ph.D (Prof rest assured that this is still in the horizon now more than ever). I have never regretted this decision as it elevated my academic profile and boosted my career prospects. Upon my return and work at NEMA we under took an assignment on raising awareness of Environmental law on legal practioners and members of the Bench. Prof mentored me and ensured they my confidence wa boosted to deliver exemplar presentations to many in the fraternity who were my Seniors. The level of prepartion and confidence in always preparing for everything has never left me. Fast forward to 2005 when he insisted we start a Fletcher Club in Kenya and the persistence of ensuring it meet every year has helped the Club gain members and momemtum. Your patience and persistence and persuit for excellence will not be forgotten.

We have lost a gentle, articulate environmental intellect, academic giant and wonderful mentor and friend.
Fare thee well Prof, until we meet again. May you rest in eternal peace.  
Anne Angwenyi

I first met Prof Charles Okidi in 2012 when he was founding Chairman of the Council of the then Karatina University Constituent College located in Nyeri County Kenya. As a Chairman of Council, he exhibited the highest standard of professionalism in leadership and governance. He had mastered the best corporate governance principles and applied them at a time when the institution was creating its systems.

Under his leadership, the University applied and was successfully elevated into a fully-fledged University. He proudly associated himself with the institution. One of his common remarks were, “ from Karachuonyo to Karatina”.

When I first met Prof Okidi, I was a young legal practitioner. I marvelled at his wealth of experience and intellect. His opening remarks in the council meetings were philosophical. He constantly reminded us of the role vested upon us in serving the Wanjiku of this country.

He was a down to earth person watching out for his juniours. He assured me of his confidence despite my then lack of experience as Inhouse-Counsel. Even after his exit, he continued keeping tabs on my progress. His passion for environmental matters was such that if it was to be left solely to him, I would have ended up advancing my studies along this line.

I count myself lucky to have been mentored by the best. 

Fare thee well Prof Okidi. Eternal rest grant unto him Oh Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him.

Prof C.O Okidi was iconic. He was a legend and scholar giant scholar who has left a large footprint in international environmental law and policy. An imposing if often abrasive go getter who would hardly take No for something he believed should be done.
He impacted some of us profoundly. Am grateful to Almighty God for the gift of the life,times and achiemevent of this great Son of Kenya and Africa. We are definitely worse off without him, but greatly comforted that he is in a good place. His legacy will endure

An Intellectual giant. A fine scholar who was ever enthusiastic in seeking knowledge and disseminating it. RIP Prof Okidi.

Very fondly remembered as colleague and friend. We shared many happy times together on IUCN Law Commission Steering Committee meeting all over the world. He was a great pioneer in our field.
Warmest wishes and thoughts to his family and friends
Donna

Prof. Okidi
A trully son of Africa who dedicate his life to ensure that environment be a real feld of law in our beloved continent and a mentor who became a God father of the Mozambican Environmental Law. I'm sure, that you are know resting among the best sons of this continent sharing your big smile with those who contributed to the development of our mother land. I promise to share WHAT i have learned under your leadership to honor your legacy, Famba ha hombe madala.

I first met Prof. Charles Okidi in the course of 1971 at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) University of Nairobi. He was delivering a public lecture on the 1929 Nile Water Treaty. I had challenged certain aspects of his presentation; a situation which seemed to have attracted his attention towards me. Thereafter, we continued to maintain contacts as close friends even as Charles continued to track my career progression. Fast forward…..

In the course of 1989/90, after I had expressed the desire to go for post graduate studies in Economics & Finance, Prof. Okidi facilitated my joining a post graduate Program at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs, Princeton University. He would later challenge, mentor and coach me to expand my knowledge in environmental law and policy; efforts that have greatly contributed towards my personal and professional growth over the years. My environmental journey with Charles is further captured in his Memoirs: ‘In Pursuit of Excellence’. It was a privilege and honor to know Charles Odidi Okidi as an academic giant, a great and compassionate human being, and as a close friend. Rest In Peace Ja-Kamwania.

Francis Okomo- Okello

Your legacy shall keep you alive within and beyond the hearts you touched and inspired.

May your soul rest in peace.

A TRIBUTE TO PROF OKIDI

Prof Okidi strode the hallways of academia like a real colossus. He was a first among equals. A scholar per excellence and a publicist by all accounts and definitions. The father of environmental law in Kenya, Prof Okidi has left an indelible footprint in the world of environmental law.

The first time he walked into our PHD class at the UON’s Centre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy (CASELAP), we had been waiting for like 10 minutes.

He shocked the wits out of our green ears when he asked us to do the lecture on the sources of environmental law. Here we were, expecting him to lecture us, and here he was, expecting one of us to volunteer and take the ...”class through today’s Seminar”.

None of us had even read the voluminous materials he had diligently asked us to do a week or so earlier, alongside the course outline.

Prof stood his ground.

For close to 10 minutes, we stared at each other, in total silence. It was a little cold, but the 9 or so of us were sweating. He was clear. As PHD students, we needed to be the experts, and had to read, and write and do exposition of what we had read, and ask him the hard questions. He left thereafter, as we squirmed and groveled uncomfortably in our seats.

After that embarrassing start, the lesson was home..... Our subsequent seminars - not classes - were quite engaging and fun.

In fact, if you had not read the numerous material he had provided for the next seminar, you were better off not attending the class. You would be exposed.

Prof Okidi is gone, for now but he has left a lasting legacy. He has planted numerous seeds that are sprouting and germinating all over the world. He shall be missed, even as we endeavor to strengthen the role and place of environmental law, here locally and globally.

Intellectuals don’t die, they just transit to a new world yonder......where the sun sets not....

Rest in power Prof Charles Odidi Okidi.

Dear Prof. Okidi,

It is very sad to lose my best teacher and mentor for the many years since our days at UNEP working together under the Partnership Programme for the Development and Implementation of Environmental Law in Africa. A project that has left a sustained mark on our continent on environmental law matters. A Programme which led to the establishment of CASELAP at the UoN again demonstrating his sustained mission of enhancing capacities in Africa and beyond on environmental law development and implementation as demonstrated in your Memoirs launched only few months ago. Reflecting back, it means you were actually saying "bye" to us all through the book and the lively ceremony held for its launch.

Certainly, the global environmental law fraternity will miss you, miss your dedicated and never ending teaching and your contribution on the subject. What a gap had been left behind, literally impossible to fill.

We will all miss you but praying to our almighty God to rest you and your soul in eternal peace. May your work continue to flourish through all those students in the legal fratenity you have taught and mentor through the years.

RIP, Prof.
By Elizabeth Mrema
UNEP/CBD Secretariat, Montreal, Canada

I had the pleasure of meeting Charles Okidi at the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law Colloquium in Ghent in 2010, and like everyone who met Charles, his kindness and academic influence (imparted quietly with respect) will be an enduring memory.

I am saddened to hear of the passing of Charles Okidi, whom I had the privilege of knowing for many years. Charles was larger than life - engaging, energetic and a passionate advocate for the advancement of environmental law in his own country, Kenya, across Africa, and globally. He was a valuable contributor to the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law from its inception and was greatly respected by the global community of environmental lawyers for his distinguished contribution to the field. I offer my sincere condolences to his family and close friends.

What sad news to hear of the passing of Professor Okidi. I first met him at the 2nd IUCNAEL Colloquium held in Nairobi in 2004, and thereafter at several ASSELLAU events. Having just entered the academic world at that time, he significantly inspired me to become involved in environmental law initiatives on the African continent. He held such wisdom and I found him so kind, humble and supportive in my interactions with him. May he rest peacefully now having left a significant mark for many to aspire to.

I join with all in the global environmental law family in being very much saddened by the news that Charles Okidi has left us. 

Charles left an indelible impression on those that he met, in environmental law meetings, training programs and conferences where we interacted with him.

He was a pioneer both in environmental law research and teaching in the African region and on the world stage; always charming, friendly and kind, always full of knowledge and wisdom.

His early contributions to the work of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law, including, inter alia, on the Revised African Convention on Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, are recorded by Barbara Lausche in Weaving a Web of Environmental Law (online at https://www.iucn.org/content/weaving-a-web-environmental-law ) at page 63 to 66.

When standing on the shoulders of a giant you can see far!
We shall continue to do so in his memory.

Prof Okidi, the father of Environmental Law in Africa, will be sorely missed. I have read Prof Okidi's work long before I met him. He inspired me to write on Environmental Framework laws in Africa. I shall remember his gentle nature, kindness and wisdom. He will be missed. My sincerest condolences to his family.

Numero uno, dearly missed...adieu. Rest in perfect peace.

I first met Charles not long after South Africans were being accepted back into the international community, and he welcomed me as a colleague with charm and warmth. I can still hear his big voice and recall fondly the frequent discussions we had about environmental law in Africa and related matters. Not only an icon in Kenya and Africa, he was regarded extremely highly throughout the world. Go well, Professor - you have made your mark and made it well.

Numero uno, dearly missed... adieu. Rest in perfect peace.

Prof, you will be sorely missed. Rest in peace.

It is indeed a loss to academic community but to Kenya. Prof's contribution to the academic and scholarly sector is tremendous and will be remembered for it. I am happy to be associated with his work at various fraternity but importantly University of Nairobi. May God comfort his family, friends and affiliates at large. Thank you for the Service- Rest well Prof.

Dear Prof,

Being your research assistant for the past two years has been an experience I will always hold close to my heart. It's hard to believe that I will never see you or hear your words of advice. I am very grateful to have met you and worked for you. You were a mentor to me and at times, a father when the need arose. I still remember your insistence on education being the key to a fulfilling life. I still remember how you would narrate your experiences and how hard you worked in school. Around 2 weeks ago when we met , you were very excited about going back to Karachuonyo to finish constructing your school. You were so passionate about education, something which is rare in this world we live in. It's so hard to even think that I will not be able to reach you when i need to. I will dearly miss you.

Prof Okidi has not died. He has only changed his workstation: a patient, persistent, diligent scholar. A gentle giant. A cool guy. A good man. We were friends because he liked honest, hardworking, and disciplined people. He never lacked words of encouragement whenever we met. When alone, we joked about how the two of us were among the few people who had served in uniformed service and academy successfully. Prof. Okidi's torch of excellence shall shine on us long beyond his mortal existence. May his soul find peace eternal. And, may we, who believed in his ideals, by our deeds, honor his unrivaled fidelity to the disciplined quest for knowledge for the good of humanity.

He was a gentleman scholar. He will be much missed.

Dear Prof. Okidi,

Always remember meeting you either in Senior Common Room or around Gandhi wing, where you would offered to buy lunch every single time. Your demise is devastating to me as a person as you very instrumental in the growth of my career. I can largely attribute most of what I am today to you as I remember how you literary head-hunted me to teach environmental economics in CASELAP. As if that was not enough, you took me under your wings and mentored me. At a time when I was still a very young academic, you embraced me and always pushed me to publish. I remember your gentle spirit--never harsh in speech, always composed, very firm and resolved, and smartly dressed. I loved listening to you ooze wisdom and knowledge. Now the time has come for you to depart. All I can say is rest in peace. I will greatly miss you and remember all the things-- great and small that you did to me. Fare thee well my mentor and friend.

I am a proud graduate of both the Moi University's School of Environmental Studies (MUSES) for my Masters and the University of Nairobi's Center for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy (CASELAP). Both these great schools were established by Prof Charles Okidi. It therefore follows that without him, it would not have been possible for me to pursue higher education in Kenya. It is striking that I was the only one with the distinguished privilege of attending his two great schools. While in Moi, due to his admirable fund raising capabilities, our entire masters class was on full scholarship and the scramble was only on acquiring the scholarship with the highest monthly stipend. We also had a separate fleet of school vehicles for our fully paid up fieldwork excursions across the country. Thank you prof Okidi for the great work, without you, many of us will not be where we are..

Dear Prof. Okidi
I know you are gone physically but your spirit will forever live amongst us. You were a good friend of mine. Every time we met...you called me out by my name..BEN. l felt recognised by a professor of your calibre. You told me to buy your book....l will definitely buy it. RIP Prof. For the family, relatives and friends.... celebrate Professor
Dr. Ben Nyariki Nyanchoga

I have read many books on environmental law written by prof Okidi. May your memory live forever

Our beloved soft spoken professor! I am yet to come to terms with your exit. When I asked you why you chose to have two children only (if you chose..), you responded in your characteristic deep voice that 'a human being is not a baby-making machine.' That sunk. You fondly talked about your grand children, especially the lawyer. May he live to be great like you. As I write this Tribute, "In pursuit of excellence" is on my desk. What a piece of work! I feel priviledged to have shared many happy moments with you. You contributed immensely to my perspective on life and career. May God give your family the grace to endure this great loss. Rest in peace Professor Charles Odidi Okidi. Judy

Dear Prof Charles Okidi,

It is very hard to believe that you are gone. I met you less than a month ago. We conversed as usual. You reminded me of this thing I was supposed to do for you. You recognized how busy I was and we set another deadline which will now reach without you. I know you will be missed. You were a good man. You were very proud of me. I really tried to copy your lifestyle as your good mentee. You were a down-to-earth intellectual. You were a caring person. You never assumed things. I remembered how you used to insist to pay my tea or lunch bills at Senior whenever you saw me, claiming it was your role to lead from the front as a mentor. Sometimes you just did it without my knowledge and I would only be signaled by the cashiers that my bills were taken care of by an invisible person who was yourself. I remember your model school project proposal in Ndhiwa in Homabay and the passion you put on it. I remember the tartiary institute project we were to embark on. What of the forest regeneration project were thought of? I remember how you used to take time on your writing as I did some proofreading here and there. I remember how you used to report to me wherever you were going down to the village and how you always encouraged me to accompany you. You even set up visitation carpets for me twice. As an accomplished scholar, you were the Ivory Tower that lived the true spirit of the trade. Many people with half your heights of knowledge would tell it all to the birds. But you decided to allow your deeds as opposed to might to rule the day. I used to brave the staircases heading to your office. You used to ask my colleagues to find me just incase you never saw me in the University corridors, pavement and Senior Common Room even for a week. How is a father supposed to behave if this was too little? You used to refer to me only as 'Jakojwang'- after Pala market, a local town we share with you back at home. Just how will I take this? That you aren't in the vicinity of the great University of Nairobi? That I won't see you at the Hyslop Parking Lot especially near your peugeot 504? When I last me you, we talked, smiled, exchanged pleasantries and agreed on something. You then crossed the University Way to take a walk towards the CBD through the opening of the Anniversary Towers. I never saw you again, till yesterday when the sad news of your departing sent shocks to my entire body, thereby blurring my vision and defeaning my ears. I will let go. I wish you all the best. May you rest well. May the Almighty guard your spirit. We shall meet again at the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I did not have the opportunity to know you for long, but for the short time, I drank profusely from your well of wisdom. Recently, after the launch of your memoirs, I would occasionally pull your legs about some of the events in your life, but to my surprise, you would graciously explain . My pleasure was the privilege that I had the opportunity to hear from the horse's mouth. Prof. Okidi, you were not just an academic giant but a good human being. Rest in peace.

What a major loss to the academic community on International environmental law! May you Rest in peace and may God comfort your family. We will surely miss you.