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Prof Ayub Gitau named new vice chancellor for UON
Prof Ayub Gitau
UON COUNCIL appoints Prof Ayub Gitau as substantive Vice Chancellor following PSC interviews; Council Chairperson Chacha Nyaigotti also announces appointment of Prof Josiah Omollo as DVC Finance and Planning.
Prof Gitau is a distinguished scholar and engineer who brings over 35 years of experience to the role. Renowned for his leadership style, which he describes as combining 'humility with systems thinking', he is charged with guiding the university through a pivotal period in higher education.
He is taking the helm from Prof Margaret Jesang Hutchinson, who has served as Acting Vice-Chancellor for the past year. The Council has expressed its gratitude to Prof Hutchinson for her stability and dedication during the transition period.
As the 9th Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Gitau will lead the university at a time when Kenyan institutions are grappling with the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the demand for industry-driven research.
Prof Gitau holds a PhD and an MSc in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Nairobi, as well as a BSc from Egerton University. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya and a member of several international bodies, including the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.
The appointment of Prof. Josiah Omollo Aduda to the Finance and Planning portfolio signals the university’s intent to accelerate financial sustainability and infrastructure modernisation.
His expertise is expected to play a pivotal role in mobilising resources and in the university's long-term strategic development.
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