By OLIVER MUSEMBI
The newly installed Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor, Prof John Okumu, has his work cut out as he moves to address a financial gridlock and other challenges facing the institution.
Okumu was officially unveiled and installed as the university’s Chief Executive last Friday, August 28, 2026, taking over from his predecessor, Prof Paul Wainaina, who retired after serving for two terms.
Wainaina, while handing over the instruments of administration, described Prof Okumu as a hardworking professional and a down-to-earth person who easily bonds with those he interacts with.
Prof Okumu listed some of the challenges he will tackle alongside the University Council, including financial constraints occasioned by dwindling government funding and infrastructural development.
Among the infrastructure projects on his agenda is the construction of a new 2,500-capacity hostel for students.
“We recognise that the challenges facing higher education, such as rapid technological change, increasing global competition, evolving societal expectations and the ever-increasing demand to run universities with limited resources, are real,” Okumu said.
He also identified implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) programme and pending bills as part of his immediate priorities.
Okumu pledged to work closely with the government, university management and student leadership to address the challenges and realise the institution’s goal of achieving academic excellence.
“My management will continue to implement well-thought-out interventions to secure our University and keep it on a trajectory of relevance, vibrancy and sustainability. I firmly believe that within these challenges lie extraordinary opportunities,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
He reiterated that the university management was already undertaking deliberate measures to strengthen financial discipline, diversify revenue streams and improve efficiency in service delivery.
Among the key investments on his agenda is the ongoing construction of a two-G+14 affordable student hostel with a capacity of 2,500 students.
“This is a modern facility that will provide our students with a better experience,” Prof Okumu said, noting that his administration would continue to prioritise the improvement of laboratories, lecture spaces, libraries, ICT infrastructure, student facilities, staff workspaces and other critical institutional assets.
“We shall therefore pursue infrastructure development within a clear framework of prioritisation, resource mobilisation, value for money and long-term sustainability,” he said.
Okumu said the university’s success should not be measured solely by the number of students it enrols or graduates, but also by the quality of transformation it brings to their lives.
“The true measure of a university is not only the number of students it enrols or graduates, but the quality of the transformation it brings to their lives,” he said.
He pledged to create an environment in which every student would have an opportunity to learn, innovate, participate, thrive and graduate with confidence.
The Vice-Chancellor also said his administration would prioritise mechanisms for identifying students experiencing academic or personal challenges early enough and providing appropriate interventions before such challenges compromised their success.
“Our vision is to produce competent, ethical, innovative and resilient graduates who are not merely seeking employment, but are capable of creating opportunities, solving societal problems and contributing meaningfully to Kenya and the global community,” Prof Okumu said.
Noting that the university’s workforce was its most important resource, Okumu pledged to create an environment in which staff could perform their duties with dignity, professionalism and pride.
“We shall work towards improving working conditions, strengthening staff welfare, supporting professional development, promoting continuous learning and providing clearer opportunities for career progression,” he added.
During the installation ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor also presided over the matriculation of 15,423 newly admitted first-year students who had reported for their first semester.
Okumu is a long-serving don at Kenyatta University and has risen through the ranks, serving in senior positions including Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academics before being appointed Vice-Chancellor.
