Richard Chesos
22 March 2006
Nairobi — Prof Olive Mwihaki Mugenda, 52, was yesterday appointed the first woman Vice-Chancellor of a public university.
Prof Olive Mugenda, the new Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor, addresses the Press after her appointment. She is the first woman Vice-Chancellor of a Kenyan public university.
Mugenda edged out three male professors to clinch the top position at Kenyatta University - one of Kenya's oldest universities - for a five-year term.
Formerly in charge of finance and planning, she deputised her predecessor, Prof Everett Standa, who returns to his teaching post at Moi University, after his three-year term ended on Monday.
First employed as a graduate assistant in 1980, Mugenda rose through the ranks to become a full professor in two decades.
She joins three other women V-Cs in the country. They are Africa Nazarene University's Prof Leah Marangu, Prof Rosalind Mutua of Kiriri Women's University of Science and Technology and Dr Freida Brown of United States International University.
Making the landmark announcement at the university boardroom, the Chancellor, Mr Harris Mule, said Mugenda had emerged top among the four applicants shortlisted for interviews. He said several candidates applied for the post.
Mugenda immediately declared: "I would like to dedicate this appointment to the Kenyan women who work hard and sometimes are not recognised. I advise young women professionals to stay focused and determined to get to their goal."
She said she would strive to be a role model to many women academics and girls since they faced many challenges, including lack of resources in their quest to reach the peak of society.
Mugenda also outlined her vision for the university, saying she would de-link admission from bed capacity to increase access.
First in her agenda will be to improve academic and research standards to world-class excellence.
She pledged to expand infrastructure, including lecture halls and laboratories, improve the university's financial base, motivate staff and promote discipline among the more than 10,000 students.
The V-C said she would also scrap academic programmes that did not meet market demands and ensure quality teaching and learning.
She would also establish a modern information, communication and technology infrastructure to improve service delivery to staff and students.
She said her main challenge would be to implement the university's 10-year strategic plan.
The university had constituted a search committee headed by Kenyatta University Council chairman, Prof Onesmo ole Moiyoi, "in line with the current practice among Kenya's public universities" to replace Standa.
The university contracted a management firm, Manpower Services, to advertise and process applications.
Each of the candidates was invited to present their vision to a joint meeting of Council and Senate members.
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