Kenyan student Prestone Ochieng Otieno has died in the United Kingdom while pursuing his nursing PhD in Portsmouth.
Details surrounding his death have not been publicly disclosed.
The National Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union, Davji Atellah, has confirmed the demise of Doctor Ochieng.
“I am deeply saddened by the sudden passing of my friend, Dr.Prestone Ochieng, in Portsmouth, UK, while pursuing his PhD. Having known him for over 15 years, I witnessed firsthand his dedication as the founding President of KEPhSA, a staunch unionist, and a true servant of the people. My heart goes out to his family and colleagues. Rest in power, comrade, said Atellah.
Prestone Ochieng Career and Academic Profile
Ochieng joined the University of Nairobi in 2010 to pursue a Bachelor of Pharmacy and later a Master of Pharmacy in Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance.
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He also holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, earned between 2016 and 2019.
Preston studied for a Certificate in Health Systems Strengthening from the University of Melbourne from 2019 to 2020.
Before his death, he served as the Assistant Director of Pharmaceutical Services and Pharmacist in Charge at Kitale County Hospital Comprehensive Care Centre.
He was also the Managing Director of Virgil Science Limited, a contract research organization specializing in pharmacovigilance, regulatory compliance for medicines, and clinical research.
Leadership and Contributions
In addition to his professional work, Ochieng was the founding President of the Pharmacy Students’ Association of Kenya (KEPhSA), where he advocated for the welfare and interests of Kenyans abroad.
Ochieng contributed to the Sciences for Health – Kenya (MSH-Kenya) team that developed a pharmacovigilance training program for healthcare workers in the EAC and IGAD regions.
He also led projects in patient safety management, antimicrobial resistance stewardship, strengthening the pharmaceutical supply chain, immunization, and disease control.
Ochieng was a skilled pharmaceutical systems expert and a registered Pharmacist with a range of experience in the health sector and a strong background in Pharmacovigilance, including:
- Quality Assurance
- Pharmacoeconomics
- Health Systems Strengthening,
- Health Policy Analysis
- Health Technologies Assessment (HTA)
- Supply chain management
Kenyans both in the country and those in diaspora have sent messages of condolences in demise
May he RIP and condolences to his family. Indeed Daktari was very committed on having a platform for pharmacy students to express,share and learn as witnessed in KEPHSA, Afro-IPSF,” said Eric Mutwiwa on X
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