President William Ruto awarded a charter to Riara University, founded by Daniel Gachukia and his wife Prof. Eddah Gachukia, upgrading the institution to a fully accredited higher learning institution.
Speaking at State House on Wednesday, March 19, President Ruto lauded the institution for its commitment to improving the quality of higher education by strengthening the university sector’s capacity.
The head of state also lauded the Riara Group founders for their exemplary impact and legacy which he confidently noted will leave an indelible mark in the education sector.
Ruto also awarded Daniel Gachukia and Prof. Eddah Gachukia, with Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (EBS).
“Their work over the past 50 years has positively shaped the landscape of Kenya, teaching and learning, touching thousands of lives and positively affecting the destinies of many,” the President noted.
Profile of Riara Group of Schools founder
Gachukia is a self-made entrepreneur who started his career as a Secondary School teacher after graduating with a Diploma in Education from Makerere University College in 1956.
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Upon graduation, he taught in various Secondary Schools in both Kenya and Uganda including, Kagumo High School and Thika High School.
He thereafter studied Diplomacy in France between 1962- 1963. From 1963 he worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the Charge d’affaires at the Kenya Embassy in Paris and later as the Chief of Protocol until he retired from civil service.
In 1974, Gachukia retired from Civil Service to join the Board of Directors of East Africa Industries Ltd and later retired in 1989, to launch the Riara Group of Schools.
For five years he was chairman of the Board of Governors of Thika High School.
Daniel Gachukia at KU
He also served for six years as a member of the Kenyatta University (KU) council and became the chairman of the council for 3 years.
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Gachukia is also a Life Governor of the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) and was for 3 years the chairman of the Nairobi International Show.
The Riara Group founder in 1994 also played a leading role in the establishment of the Kenya Private Schools’ Association (KPSA), an association of owners of private schools in Kenya which follow the Kenya curriculum of education, for which he was founding chairman for 10 years and is now the patron.
Riara University achieved the esteemed status of a charter under the guidance of the Commission for University Education (CUE).
A university charter is the highest level of certification for universities in Kenya.
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