President William Ruto has appointed the Board Chairman of Equity Group Holdings, Professor Isaac Muthure Macharia, as the Chancellor of Karatina University.
In a gazette notice dated April 11, President Ruto stated that Macharia would serve in the role for five years.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 38 (1) (a) of the Universities Act, 2012, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint—Prof. Isaac Muthure Macharia to be the Chancellor of Karatina University, for a period of five (5) years, with effect from the 11th April, 2025,” read the notice in part.
Macharia was appointed Equity Group chairman in June 2020 following the retirement of David Ansell. He joined Equity Bank Kenya Board in 2015 and became the Chair in 2017.
Ruto Appoints Prof. Isaac Macharia as Chancellor of Karatina University
The appointee is also the founder of Nairobi Ent Clinic, Otolaryngology Associates.
Macharia is a renowned Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgeon with extensive expertise in both pediatric and adult ENT surgery, hearing impairment, pediatric otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, rhinology, and allergy treatments.
He currently holds multiple positions including Chairman at Jadala Investments, Professor at the University of Nairobi, Member at Christian Blind Mission International Germany, and Secretary-Africa & Middle East Region at the International Federation of Oto-rhino-laryngological Societies.
In the past, he served as former Chairman at Savannah Informatics Ltd., Non-Executive Chairman at Equity Bank, Chairman at Allergy Society of Kenya, Chairman at Cochlear Implant Group of Kenya, and President at Pan African Federation of Otorhinolaryngology Societies.
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Education and His Surgical Role
Prof. Macharia is one of only two Kenyan otologists currently performing cochlear implantation.
His surgical expertise extends to head and neck cancer surgery, nasal and sinus conditions, and vocal cord disorders.
He has a special interest in allergy treatment and is the founder of the Kenya Allergy Society.
The professor holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) and a Master of Medicine in Surgery (ENT) from the University of Nairobi.
With over 20 years of surgical experience, Macharia also received international training and recognition through the College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA).
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Professional Career
Professor Isaac Muthure Macharia began his medical career as an intern at the Provincial General Hospital, Nakuru (1984–1985), before serving as a Medical Officer at Meru District Hospital (1985–1986) and later as the Medical Officer in Charge at Moyale Sub-District Hospital (1986–1987).
He then worked as a Senior House Officer in the ENT Department at Kenyatta National Hospital (1987–1990), followed by a stint as a Consultant ENT Surgeon at Machakos District Hospital (1990–1991).
Since 1991, he has served as a Consultant ENT Surgeon at Kenyatta National Hospital and has run a part-time private practice at the Nairobi ENT Clinic from 1993 to date.
In academia, he joined the University of Nairobi as a Lecturer in the Department of Surgery (1991–1997), rose to Senior Lecturer (1997–2001), and was appointed Associate Professor in 2001.
He is a member of several prestigious organizations, including the Kenya Surgical Society, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the New York Academy of Sciences, the European Society of Rhinology, the Kenya ENT Society (KENTS), and the Kenya Medical Association.
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