PROF. NYAIGOTTI CHACHA
| DATE OF BIRTH | August 22, 1952 |
| GENDER | Male |
| OCCUPATION | Kenyan playwright and Educationalist |
Prof. Nyaigotti Chacha Biography
Professor Nyaigotti Chacha is the newly appointed Chairperson of the University of Nairobi Council, following his appointment by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba through a gazette notice dated Friday, July 25, 2025.
In the gazette notice, the Education CS appointed him to the position for a term of three years, replacing Professor Amukowa Anangwe.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 36(1) of the Universities Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Education appoints—
Under paragraph (a): Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha (Prof.) — Chairperson;
,” read part of the notice.
Born on August 22, 1952, in Kuria District (now Migori County), Prof. Chacha hails from the Kuria community.
He currently serves as the Chairman of the Commission for University Education (CUE), a position he has held since November 2016.
The 73-year-old Professor previously served as the Executive Secretary of the Inter-University Council for East Africa for a decade (2000–2010).
Earlier, from 1995 to 2000, he was the first Chief Executive Officer of the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).
Career
During and even before his tenure, the HELB loan disbursement was popularly referred to by students as “boom”.
In addition to his roles in higher education policy and leadership, Prof. Chacha is also a renowned playwright and educationalist.
He has authored several notable works, primarily in Swahili. Some of his literary works include Mke Mwenza (1997) published by East Africa Education Publishers, Hukumu (1992) published by Longman in the “Michezo ya Kuigiza” series (Swahili Edition) and Wingi Jeusi (1987), published in the “Waandishi wa Kiafrika” series (Swahili Edition).
Educaction Background
Throughout his academic career, Prof. Chacha has taught in several universities. He served as a Tutorial Fellow and Lecturer in Swahili Language and Linguistics at the Kenyatta University and later at Egerton University.
He was also a Research Professor at the Institute of Regional Integration and Development at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).
Prof. Chacha holds a Bachelor of Education in Swahili Language from Kenyatta University, a Master’s degree in Anthropological Linguistics from Yale University, and a Ph.D. in Swahili Language, also from Yale.
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