Soft afternoon light settles over the Main Campus in Eldoret as news of the passing on of former Dean of Students David Mwenje Mureithi, popularly known as D.O.D Mureithi, continues to ripple through the Moi University community.

The 78-year-old administrator, whose firm yet caring presence defined student life for more than three decades, has left a void that alumni, staff and current students describe as the closing of an era.

Known across generations simply as “D.O.D” or the “Dean of Deans,” Mureithi was more than an official.

To many who walked the pathways of Main Campus, he was the steady hand that guided restless young minds, the voice that demanded discipline while quietly nurturing talent, and the administrator whose office door remained open long after official hours.

Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kiplagat Kotut led the institutional tribute, describing the late dean as a cornerstone of the university’s formative years.

“Today we mourn a man whose name is woven into the very fabric of Moi University,” Prof. Kotut said.

“D.O.D Mureithi served this institution with rare dedication for over thirty years. He shaped not only student conduct but the character of countless graduates who today lead in public service, media, business and academia. His legacy of discipline tempered with genuine concern for young people will continue to inspire us. On behalf of the entire university community, I extend our deepest condolences to his family. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” the VC added.

Alumni who experienced his leadership during their student years remember both the strictness and the unexpected kindness.

Student journalists and campus media practitioners, including this writer, hold a particular affection for the late dean.

His tenure coincided with the growth of student publications and radio platforms. Many credit him with creating space for young voices even while insisting on responsible expression.

He understood that a university without vibrant student media is incomplete.

Throughout periods of campus tension, Mureithi was often the calm centre, working to resolve student grievances while protecting the institution’s stability.

Those who worked closely with him recall a mentor who believed student welfare extended far beyond the classroom—into choir practice, leadership training, sports and the quiet moments of personal counselling.

As tributes continue to flow from former colleagues, alumni associations and the broader university fraternity, one theme remains constant: Mureithi’s influence outlasted his official tenure.

His name still evokes an era when the Dean of Students’ office stood at the heart of campus culture.

By Maurice Aluda