Henry Odera Oruka was born on 1 June 1944 in Nyanza Province of Kenya. After his advanced level studies in Kenya, he went to Uppsala University in Sweden. There he registered for a BSc programme in the Faculty of Mathematics–Natural Science and studied Meteorology, Geography, and Geodesy. He later added Philosophy to his studies because of his interest in the subject. Upon graduating in Science and Philosophy (a year ahead of his class), he opted to drop science and continue with his studies in Philosophy. He moved to Wayne State University in the United States of America for his master's degree where he completed his studies and eventually obtained a PhD. His dissertation on the theme of "Freedom" (written in 1970) was later refined and published as "Punishment and Terrorism in Africa" in 1976. From October 1970 until his death on 9 December 1995, he taught Philosophy at the University of Nairobi.