Prof Elijah Omwenga has officially been appointed the substantive vice chancellor of the Open University of Kenya (OUK), ending his one-and-a-half-year service in acting capacity.
The university council communicated Prof Maritim's appointment in a notice to staff and students, noting it takes effect on April 17 2025.
Prof Omwenga has been serving as acting VC of the institution since it opened and was awarded a charter in August 2023.
“Prof Omwenga’s leadership shall drive OUK’s growth, ensure sustained stability, and reinforce its commitment to achieving strategic objectives,” said Prof Maritim.
Ruto awards Charter to the Open University of Kenya
The OUK, the country's first fully virtual public university, was established to expand access to higher education for millions of Kenyans wishing to pursue studies remotely.
The Konza Technopolis-based institution which rides on the country’s digital infrastructure admitted its first batch of students in November 2023 charging between Sh10,400 and Sh10,900 per module, depending on the course.
Its range of academic programmes spanning undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional development levels are designed to provide flexible, accessible and affordable education through a fully digital learning model.
“Prof Omwenga’s leadership shall drive OUK’s growth, ensure sustained stability, and reinforce its commitment to achieving strategic objectives,” said Prof Maritim.
Prof Omwenga whose background is in computer science has extensive experience in academia and leadership.
Prior to joining OUK, he served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs at the University of Kabianga.
“These position him well in advancing the university’s virtual education mandate and contribute to national development goals,” he said.
Open University of Kenya at Konza Technopolis.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
The first virtual university in Kenya offers low-cost alternative to traditional higher education for Kenyan students.
Undergraduate programmes at the OUK include Bachelor of Data Science, Bachelor of Economics and Statistics, Bachelor of Science in Business and Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Data Science, Bachelor of Technology Education as well as Bachelor of Cyber Security and Digital Forensics.
Its postgraduate programmes include Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence, Master of Learning Design and Technology among others.
