The Promise of the 9th Vice-Chancellor
The University of Nairobi's 9th Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ayub Njoroge Gitau was officially installed on Friday, 17th July 2026, in a ceremony marked by rich academic rituals and traditions of the University. The installation rite was done by Prof. Chacha Nyaigoti- Chacha and witnessed by Principal Secretary , State Department for Higher Education, Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala.
Held at the iconic Taifa Hall, the installation formally invested Prof. Gitau with the authority and responsibility of the University's highest executive office. Rooted in centuries-old academic tradition, the ceremony signifies far more than the assumption of office. It represents the formal transfer of stewardship of one of Africa's most distinguished universities renewing its commitment to scholarship, innovation, integrity and service while setting the course for its next chapter.
The colourful ceremony brought together the Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research, Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, representing the Cabinet Secretary for Education, senior Government officials, Vice Chancellors from universities across Kenya, members of the diplomatic corps, development partners, captains of industry, alumni, staff and students, reflecting the University's enduring influence as a national and global centre of teaching, research and innovation.
The day's programme began with a ceremonial tree-planting exercise and an academic procession through the University's iconic Foundation of Knowledge, symbolising growth, continuity and the enduring pursuit of scholarship before the formal investiture at Taifa Hall.
In his acceptance speech after taking the oath of office, Prof. Gitau shared his Vision and strategic priorities with the enthusiastic audience in Taifa hall.
He expressed humility and gratitude for his appointment, acknowledging the university's legacy and the contributions of its community.
Prof. Gitau stressed the importance of active listening based on his recent engagements with stakeholders. He promised to provide Srategic leadership to strengthen the university's competitive position nationally, regionally, and internationally, fostering academic excellence, innovation, sustainability, transformation, and societal impact.
His leadership will focus on five key strategic priorities:
- Student success, welfare, and well-being;
- Advancing research and innovation,
- Aligning Curriculum reforms, and Competency-Based Education & Training (CBET) with the National Development Agenda.
- Digital transformation and infrastructure development, including the new Engineering and Science Complex.
- Alumni engagement and partnerships.
He called for collective ownership and shared commitment from faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners to achieve these goals and build a brighter future for the University of Nairobi.
Recognising research as the University's defining strength, Prof. Gitau pledged to accelerate research excellence, innovation and commercialization, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, modernise curricula, and expand opportunities for postgraduate training, entrepreneurship and industry engagement to ensure research delivers practical solutions to national and global challenges.
The Vice Chancellor also committed to accelerating the University's digital transformation, leveraging emerging technologies, artificial intelligence and data-driven systems to improve teaching, learning, research, governance and service delivery, while enhancing the overall student and staff experience.
Acknowledging that world-class universities require world-class environments, he announced plans to modernise the University's physical and digital infrastructure through sustainable investments in teaching facilities, research laboratories, learning spaces and smart campus technologies that support excellence across all disciplines.
Prof. Gitau further pledged to invest in the University's greatest asset its people by strengthening staff welfare, professional development, leadership capacity and
performance excellence, while fostering a culture built on integrity, accountability, collaboration and innovation.
Recognising that no university succeeds in isolation, he emphasised the importance of expanding partnerships with Government, industry, development partners, alumni and the global academic community to mobilise resources, deepen international collaboration and enhance the University's contribution to Kenya's socio-economic transformation.
Calling on the entire University community to embrace a shared purpose, Prof. Gitau noted that the University's future would be shaped not by one individual, but by the collective commitment of its staff, students, alumni and partners working together to build an institution that remains globally competitive while responding to the aspirations of the nation.
"This University will shape the future," he declared, challenging every member of the University community to become an active participant in writing the institution's next chapter.
University Council Chairperson Prof. Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha captured the significance of the occasion with words that echoed throughout the hall.
"There are days when an institution simply keeps its appointments with the calendar, and there are days when it keeps its appointment with history. Today is the latter."
He reflected on the University's remarkable journey, noting that since attaining full university status in 1970, only eight individuals had previously held the office of Vice Chancellor. The installation of Prof. Gitau, he observed, was therefore not merely the appointment of a new chief executive, but the continuation of a distinguished leadership tradition that has shaped generations of scholars, innovators, professionals and national leaders.
Reaffirming the Council's commitment to institutional integrity, Prof. Chacha emphasized that Prof. Gitau's appointment followed "a rigorous, open, competitive and merit-based process, conducted in accordance with the law," underscoring that transparency, accountability, fairness and meritocracy remain the bedrock of governance at the University of Nairobi.
He further pledged that the University Council would continue to provide strategic oversight while safeguarding the institution's autonomy, ensuring that leadership remains stable, professional and focused on advancing the University's long-term interests.
