Prof Romanus Odhiambo is the current Vice Chancellor of Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST), appointed in July 2018.
In March 2023, he was briefly fired as Vice-Chancellor of MUST due to alleged poor performance.
However, the decision was dramatically reversed after massive student protests and community demonstrations demanded his return.
Romanus Odhiambo is also a Professor of Statistics. So far, Odhiambo has supervised 27 PhD and 32 master’s students to completion since 2007.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in education with majors in mathematics and chemistry, and a master’s in statistics from Kenyatta University.
Additionally, he earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in statistics from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
Romanus Odhiambo Career Background
He has over 26 years of progressive experience in academics, research, and leadership, with over 18 years in senior leadership positions.
He began his teaching journey in 1987 as a high school teacher at Kinyanjui Technical and other schools, initially untrained and later as a graduate teacher.
Also Read: Isaac Odeo: Former Teacher Who Became Long-Serving Vice Chancellor at Kibabii University
In 1992, Odhiambo joined Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) as a Lecturer and advanced to Senior Lecturer by 1999.
He was later appointed Chairman of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, overseeing departmental administration and curriculum development.
In 2003, he was elected Dean of the Faculty of Science for two consecutive terms, and from 2008 to 2018, he served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) at JKUAT, managing all academic divisions, student affairs, and syllabus development
Romanus Odhiambo serves as a member of the International Biometric Society (IBS), the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS), and the Kenya Inter-University Association of Mathematicians and Computer Scientists.
He has also participated in curriculum reviews for the Commission for University Education (CUE), including programmes such as the Master of Science in Statistics and Applied Mathematics.
Achievements
He has successfully supervised over 27 PhD candidates and 32 Master’s students to completion.
As a Professor of Statistics, Romanus Odhiambo has published 46 research articles and co-authored 5 undergraduate textbooks.
He oversaw the completion of several stalled projects and launched the Meru University’s first Innovation Week to bridge research and the marketplace.
Under his leadership, MUST rose from position 27 to 19 among Kenyan universities, aiming to enter the top 10.
He has successfully led the university in securing a grant from the African Development Bank to establish a Centre of Excellence in Electrical Engineering, positioning MUST as a regional innovation hub.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
