- Ochieng’ Ogodo, Mongabay’s East Africa editor, passed away suddenly in Nairobi at age 64, following a brief illness. He had been in good spirits the night before his death, watching a football match and corresponding with friends.
- A pioneer in African science and environmental journalism, Ogodo brought nearly three decades of experience to Mongabay, where he quickly built a strong editorial team, expanded coverage of critical regional issues, and gave voice to underreported stories.
- His career spanned influential roles at SciDev.Net, The Standard, and numerous international outlets, and he was widely recognized for his integrity, mentorship and dedication to journalism in service of the public good. He also helped found KENSJA and served on the board of the World Federation of Science Journalists.
- Beyond his professional impact, he was remembered for his humility, warmth and deep commitment to mentoring others, with colleagues at Mongabay and across the continent vowing to carry forward the values he championed in journalism.
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of Ochieng’ Ogodo, Mongabay’s East Africa editor, who died early Thursday morning in Nairobi, Kenya, at the age of 64.
According to his family, Ochieng’ experienced sudden and severe chest pain around 2:00 a.m. local time and was rushed to Mama Lucy Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. He had been in good spirits the night before, enjoying a Champions League football match and exchanging messages with friends and colleagues.
Ochieng’ was a towering figure in science and environmental journalism in Africa, with a career spanning nearly three decades. He joined Mongabay in 2025 as the founding editor of our East Africa bureau, where he worked with dedication and vision to expand coverage of critical environmental issues in the region. In that short time, he built a team of talented journalists, shaped editorial direction, and brought global attention to underreported stories from East Africa’s forests, savannas, coastlines and communities.
“Ochieng’ was a rare kind of journalist — deeply principled, highly effective, and unwavering in his commitment to storytelling that serves the public good,” said Mongabay CEO Rhett A. Butler. “He brought decades of experience, a deep well of knowledge, and a humble grace to our newsroom. His death is a profound loss for Mongabay and for environmental journalism across the continent.”
Before joining Mongabay, Ochieng’ served as the Sub-Saharan Africa regional coordinator and English-language editor for SciDev.Net for over 12 years. He was also a prolific freelancer whose bylines appeared in National Geographic, Nature Medicine, The Guardian (UK), the British Medical Journal and University World News, among others. Earlier in his career, he worked as a senior reporter and editor at Kenya’s Standard newspaper, including on its investigative desk, where he gained a reputation for tackling complex issues with clarity and courage.
A recipient of the 2008 Reuters-IUCN Media Award for Excellence in Environmental Reporting, Ochieng’ was widely respected for his contributions to science communication. He was a founding chairperson of the Kenya Environment and Science Journalists Association (KENSJA) and served two terms on the Executive Board of the World Federation of Science Journalists.
“Ochieng’ was more than a colleague — he was a mentor and a friend to many on our team,” said Butler. “He believed in the power of journalism to hold power to account, illuminate truth, and inspire action. His legacy lives on in the many journalists he trained, the networks he helped build, and the countless readers who learned something new because of his work.”
Ochieng’ held a Master’s degree in Communication and Media Studies from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Moi University. He brought academic rigor, editorial skill, and heartfelt curiosity to every story.
At Mongabay, he covered a wide range of environmental topics — from wildlife trafficking and deforestation to Indigenous rights and climate adaptation. His stories often focused on the intersection of nature and people, and he had a gift for elevating voices that are too often ignored in global conversations.
Before his death, one of Ochieng’s assignments was helping Mongabay Africa expand its footprint in East Africa.
“I had the privilege of spending time with him recently in Kenya, and in both our professional collaboration and personal conversations, his wisdom, warmth, and passion for storytelling stood out. We are grateful for his contribution to our East Africa expansion and will miss him dearly — not just as a colleague, but as a friend,” said David Akana, director of programs of Mongabay Africa.
“We are deeply saddened by his passing. Though his time with us was brief, Ochieng’ made a profound impact. He brought an authentic voice and a lifetime of experience to our mission, helping to bring critical environmental stories from Africa to life with clarity and purpose,” Akana added. “His dedication to journalism, especially in service of nature and communities, will continue to inspire our work and guide our vision.”
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Ochieng’ was known for his generosity, humility and dry wit. He was an ardent Arsenal football club supporter, an enthusiastic traveler, and a devoted father and family man. His warmth and wisdom will be missed by those who had the privilege of knowing him.
Mongabay’s global team is still absorbing this sudden loss, and we will be working in the days ahead to honor his memory.
In the meantime, we invite those who knew Ochieng’ or were touched by his work to share memories or messages of condolence using the comment system below.
“We are heartbroken,” said Butler. “But we are also grateful — for his life, for his leadership, and for the enduring example he leaves behind. May he rest in peace, and may his stories continue to inspire.”
Obituary for Ben “Benny” Ochieng’ Ogodo
Ochieng’ Ogodo, science journalist, mentor, and editor, died on April 17th, aged 64
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