A Kenyan Professor To Receive Knighthood From The Queen Of England

Royal Society of Chemistry statement: “The Royal Society of Chemistry expresses its deep regret for the administrative error made in a letter sent to Professor Shem Wandiga of the University of Nairobi, Kenya. Owing to a data entry error, Professor Wandiga was referred to as “Professor Sir S O Wandiga” in a letter confirming his Fellowship of the RSC. This has led to a misunderstanding about Professor Wandiga being offered a knighthood by the Queen. The RSC apologises unreservedly to Professor Wandiga for the error that led to these unfortunate circumstances, and for any resulting misrepresentation.”

He has never been afraid to dream big. He took a step outside the comfort zone, where most people fear to tread. And for all his tribulations in the field of chemistry and chemical sciences, Prof Shem Oyoo Wandiga, has added the prefix "Sir" to his name.

The University of Nairobi professor, at a date to be announced, will travel to Buckingham Palace to receive the Knighthood from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England.

"I am elated. This is a big honour not only for me but also the country," Prof Wandiga told the Nation on Wednesday.

The Kenyan scholar becomes the first on the continent to be knighted for his contribution to chemical sciences in the Commonwealth countries. "I believe they were satisfied with my contribution," he said.

A Knight was recognised by Middle Ages society as a man who possessed great combat skills and who adhered to a code of law called Chivalry. Modern knighthoods are typically awarded in recognition for services rendered to society: services which are not necessarily martial in nature.

At a date yet to be made known to him, Prof Wandiga will kneel on an Investiture stool to receive the accolade, which is bestowed by the Queen using the sword which her father, George VI used when, as Duke of York, he was Colonel of the Scots Guards. The Queen then will "Invest" the recipient with the Insignia of the award.The news of his being knighted coincides with his admission as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, based in Cambridge, UK, in May. The society with 46,000 members is the largest in Europe for advancing the chemical sciences.

A letter announcing his admission as a Fellow of RSC was signed by Dr David W Barr, the Membership and Qualification manager of the society. "As a Fellow of the RSC, you are entitled to use the designatory letters FRSC (Fellow of the RSC) after your name," Dr Barr wrote.

Now, once the Queen touches his shoulders with the sword, the don's full name will read something like Prof Sir Shem Oyoo Wandiga, FRSC. "The designatory letters of AMRSC, MRSC, and FRSC signify to all that the holder is a professional chemical scientist, well qualified and subject to a rigorous code of conduct.

Holders of these letters are committed to the advancement of the chemical sciences and maintaining high standards of competence and ethical behaviour," the society says on its website, www.rsc.org. Prof Wandiga, now 70, was born on September 22 1939 at Simbi Village in Rachuonyo District.

He is a professor of chemistry at the department of chemistry, University of Nairobi. He also serves as a director of the Centre for Science Technology Innovations in Nairobi. He has been a lecturer at the university for the last 28 years, and is author of several papers in these areas.

He has a PhD from the Case Western Reserve University, USA. He was also Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration and Finance) of the same university. He credits his success to the opportunities provided to him through the Africa Airlift project which was organised by the late Tom Mboya in 1959, together with the African-American Students Foundation in the United States.

The airlift programme benefited 81 Kenyan students in the 1960s including the senior Barack Obama, the father of the current US president Barack Obama.

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201007210758.html