On Saturday 2nd of December, Dr. Macdonald George Obudho and his family held a thanksgiving service in Nairobi to celebrate a long academic journey that culminated into attainment of PhD.
This journey started in Kisian Primary School Kisumu, then Mariwa Primary School, Muhoroni where George was among the last group to write the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) in 1983. The muddy roads of Mariwa village circling the vast sugar plantations, mostly impassable during rainy seasons, the dead darkness at nightfall, the endless chirping of crickets, and other rural sugar-belt challenges must have tempted the young George’s spirit to give up.
However, he weathered these early-life disruptions, and joined Ogada Secondary School in 1984.
He did Form 4 in 1987 and proceeded to Jamhuri High School, Nairobi for his A-levels in 1988 where he took a combination of Maths, Physics and Chemistry (MPC). This MPC was not an average boy’s combo. He successfully completed A-levels in 1989.
George joined Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in 1990 and graduated in 1994 with Bsc in Mathematics and Computer Science. He did his Masters in Applied Statistics (Sampling) in the same University between 2003-2005.
Long Walk for PhD
Dr. Obudho’s desire for higher education propelled him to register for PhD in 2017. After seven torturous years of study and work, Macdonald George Obudho was this year conferred PhD in Applied Statistics entitled Classification of Stateless Communities using a Robust Nonparametric Kernel Discriminant Function.
Professional Life
Dr. Obudho is well travelled and has attended several courses and seminars around the world. He serves in the Board of Directors at Tourism Research Institute and Hazina SACCO where he is also the Vice Chairman.
At the international level, he serves in the Board of PARIS21 – an acronym for Partnership in Statistics for Development in 21st Century.
The French based Statisticians body aims to improve the production, quality and availability, and use of statistics for informed decision-making for sustainable development.
Back home, Dr. Obudho is a member of Kenya National Statistical Society.
Work Experience
Dr. Obudho who is currently serving his second term as the Director General of Kenya National Bureau of Statistics joined the service in 1995 as a Statistician with the then Central Bureau of Statistics. He served as a District Statistical Officer in Mandera and later Meru Districts between 1995 and 2000.
Between 2000 and 2007, he served as Provincial Statistics Officer in Nairobi and coordinated coordinated the then 71 district statistical offices between 2003 and 2009.
He was promoted to Senior Manager Sampling, Cartography and Field Services in the period 2009-2011 and later, to Director Population and Social Statistics from 2011 to 2020 before taking the helm at KNBS.
The thanksgiving service of 2nd December 2023 was graced by several dignitaries including the Vice Chancellor of Meru University Prof. Romanus Odhiambo, Deputy Principal Bomet University College, Prof. George Orwa, among several Principal Secretaries in the Government and current and former heads of various parastatals, and several dignitaries like Dr Pamela Odhiambo (former Women Rep, Migori). Pastor Rev. William Okoth in-charge of Bahati Parish who represented the Bishop of Diocese of Masogo East delivered a powerful sermon at the occasion.
On 17th December 2023, another thanksgiving service was held in Makongeni Church, and was graced by His Lordship the Bishop of Diocese of Masogo East, Rt. Rev. Argwings Yoto and flanked by Urban Dean, Rev. George Orwa.
State Honours
Dr. George Obudho was in 2019 awarded The Order of the Moran of the Burning Spear (M.B.S) for undertaking the first digital census in Kenya, and by extension, Africa.
On the last Jamhuri day on 12th December 2023, he was awarded the Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (E.B.S) for distinguished service he has offered the country in the last few years especially after achieving he 2022 KDHS, 2022 Time Use Survey, among others.
Church
Dr. George Obudho, well known for his humility, serves Makongeni Parish as a member of the Development Board. He is married to Carolyne Obudho, and are blessed with four children – Candy, Denzel, Sophie and Noel.
Success tips
Dr. Obudho shared his success tips to members:
- Put God first : He advised members to put God first in everything that they plan to do, and when they are doing it.
- Hard work pays: Hardwork and honesty pays. According to Dr. Obudho, there is no short cut to success. One must pump in the efforts.
- Determination is key: It took Dr. Obudho seven good years to complete his PhD. This, he alludes to his busy office, which most of the time denied him opportunity to read. He was however, determined to reach his goal.
- Exploit your Potential: He observed that all of us have inherent capabilities and potential, and we can achieve anything we desire under the sun. We should always push beyond our limits.
- Dream big : Dr. George winds it up by urging all of us to dream big. “Let each person have a dream and start executing it one day at a time” he concluded.
