Former Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi Thuranira has been appointed Chancellor of the Management University of Africa (MUA), succeeding Dr. Arch—Reuben Musyoka Mutiso, who served in the role for 14 years.
The university announced the appointment on Wednesday, October 21, saying the Board of Trustees named Kaimenyi its second Chancellor.
MUA said Kaimenyi’s appointment marks a new chapter for the institution, expressing confidence in his leadership and experience in academia and public service.
“We warmly congratulate Prof. Kaimenyi, whose exceptional service to academia and to the nation is widely recognised. We look forward to benefiting from his vast experience as the university enters this new chapter,” the university said in a statement.
Kaimenyi’s Journey Through Academia and Government
Jacob Thuranira Kaimenyi is a career academic, dental surgeon, university administrator, diplomat and former Cabinet Secretary whose professional journey spans more than four decades.
He joined the University of Nairobi in 1974 as part of the pioneer class of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme, graduating in 1978, then pursued postgraduate studies in Periodontology at the University of Mangalore in India and later earned a PhD from the University of Nairobi.
He built his career at the University of Nairobi, rising through the academic ranks to become a Professor of Periodontology and later Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, a position he held from 2004 to 2013.
In 2013, Kaimenyi moved into public service after being appointed Cabinet Secretary for Education, Science and Technology in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s first administration.
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He later served as Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Housing and Urban Development from 2015 to 2018.
Professor Jacob Thuranira Kaimenyi was initially nominated as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO in Paris in early 2018.
President Uhuru Kenyatta later moved his posting to Belgium in July 2018.
During his posting, he also served as Kenya’s envoy to the European Union and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, representing the country’s interests in diplomatic, trade and development engagements.
He also engaged with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), headquartered in Brussels.
Kaimenyi is a recipient of the Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (EBS) and Elder of the Golden Heart (EGH) honours and was appointed Chief Scout of Kenya in 2022.
About the Management University of Africa
The Management University of Africa (MUA) is a private university based in Nairobi that specialises in management, leadership and business education.
The institution traces its roots to 2011 and has grown into a chartered university offering programmes from certificate level to doctoral studies.
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MUA says its mission is to provide quality education through innovative teaching and distinguished research while nurturing leaders, change agents and entrepreneurs with a global outlook.
Its vision is to be a premier chartered university providing management and transformative leadership solutions in Kenya and beyond.
MUA focuses on developing leaders, managers and entrepreneurs through training in areas such as business administration, management and leadership, development studies, education, entrepreneurship and supply chain management.
The university also offers master’s and doctoral programmes to strengthen leadership and management capacity in the public and private sectors.
In recent years, MUA has expanded its academic offerings, research activities and distance learning programmes as it seeks to strengthen its position in Kenya’s higher education sector.
The Commission for University Education granted the institution its full charter, cementing its status as a fully accredited university.
The Kenya Institute of Management (KIM), a professional body founded in 1954 to promote excellence in management and leadership in Kenya, established MUA.
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