Distinguished pharmacist and pioneer in herbal medicine Prof Julius Wanjohi Mwangi will be laid to rest on Friday.
He will be laid to rest at his home in Kianjege, Kirinyaga.
Mwangi who was a Professor of Pharmacognosy at the University of Nairobi and the first one in East and Central Africa died on June 8 while undergoing treatment at The Nairobi Hospital.
He dedicated his life to the study and advancement of herbal and complementary medicines.
Mwangi who is a former member and a member of the committee of experts for herbal and complementary medicines at the Pharmacy and Poisons Board provided invaluable guidance and knowledge, making him an essential resource in the field.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board CEO Dr Fred Siyoi has mourned him as a compassionate mentor, a devoted teacher and a true inspiration to many.
“His expertise and extensive experience played a pivotal role in shaping the regulatory framework for these medicines in our country,” Siyoi said.
“His impact as a board member and his unwavering commitment to fostering the growth of our field will be deeply missed.”
Mwangi served as a Member of the Task Force on “Protection of Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources and Folklore” constituted in 2006 and chaired the task Force on the formulation of the Intellectual Property Policy of the University of Nairobi in 2002.
He also served on the Ad-hoc committee on the treatment of burns with Chinese herbal medicine at Kenyatta National Hospital in 1997.
In 2000, he was a member of a task force constituted to review and draw up a Collaborative Agreement between the University of Nairobi, the International Aids Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and the New York and Medical Research Centre (Britain) on the HIV/AIDS vaccine research 2000-2001.
The agreement was signed on August 24, 2001.
