10/02/2021
*WHO IS DR. LAWRENCE MWANGI KARANJA IN CLINICAL MEDICINE PROFESSION?*
In his long career Dr.Karanja influenced and added value to more than 10,000 Clinical Officers to say the least.
*HOW DID HE DO IT? AMONG MANY INITIATIVES & ACHIEVEMENTS*
1) He was an icon and has been a strong pillar for more than 4 decades (> 40 years) as a trainer and mentor in KMTC and later JKUAT.
2) As a young Clinical Officer, he led from the front the fight and lobbying for enactment of Clinical Officers law Cap 260 to train and practice legally and independently.
3) As a young energetic CO he was part of KMTC Clinical Medicine faculty in Nakuru that produced largest number of the most productive and successful Clinical Officers in Kenya today.
4) At a time when there was greatest demand for Clinical Medicine and other medical courses training and KMTC could only meet about 25% of the demand then, Dr. Karanja did what many of us then saw as the 'most crazy' thing; he started the first private school of Clinical Medicine- Lake Institute of Tropical Medicine in Kisumu with expansion of private training to present.
5) Dr. Karanja believed in career progression and academic advancement hence became one the first Clinical Officers to acquire masters degree and later doctoral degree earning himself the title Dr. Karanja,Most of his research was revolving around value addition and career progression of Clinical Medicine and Officers.
6) Dr. Karanja was full of surprises, he was amongst the first KMTC staff to take a very early retirement and started a new career history in JKUAT as lecturer and Chairman of Clinical Medicine department - A KMTC retiree and full time lecturer at JKUAT all at the same time.
7) Dr Karanja as the Clinical Medicine department Chairman at JKUAT, he stabilized diploma in Clinical Medicine,influenced JKUAT to start Bsc in Clinical Medicine, supported proper teaching of Anatomy as it has been happening and developed the first proposals and curricula for Clinical Medicine masters programs which are almost at their ex*****on stage.
8)Dr. Karanja lobbied and influenced Joint Universities
Admissions Board/KUCCPS to include Clinical Medicine in their list of programs to consider for admissions.
9) Dr. Karanja was a researcher,research supervisor,great mentor and an emeritus.
10) Dr.Karanja was a wonderful entrepreneur, a linguist (speaking many Kenyan local dialects fluently) and with a very rich social capital ( a friend to all) and was very shy to conflicts(peaceful and relaxed all the time).
*WAY FORWARD*
1) To such an icon, I suggest we as the fraternity give Dr. Karanja a *Ksh. 1 million decent sendoff* - DR. KARANJA DIRECTLY TOUCHED THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 10,000 CLINICAL OFFICERS;IF HE TOUCHED YOUR LIFE, PLEASE ACCEPT TO BE AMONG THE FIRST *1,000 CLINICAL OFFICERS TO SEND 1,000/- EACH (1000×1000=1MILLION)* - BEFORE MIDDAY TOMORROW (11/2/2021)TO GIVE DR. KARANJA THE HEROIC SENDOFF THAT HE DESERVES. IF you give more , you will automatically receive more blessings.
2) DR. KARANJA'S FINAL JOURNEY IS TOMORROW (11/2/2021) IN NAROK - *All ROADS for Clinical Officers lead and head to Narok,* let's purpose to attend in big numbers to bid Farewell to a Professional hero.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Albert W.Taiti
National Chairman-KCOA
