Prof. Ayub Gitau, VC UoN
The University of Nairobi Council, after the requisite consultations has appointed Prof. Ayub Njoroge Gitau as the 9th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, ushering in a new era of academic leadership, institutional renewal, innovation and global engagement at Kenya’s premier university. Prof. Ayub Njoroge Gitau has been acting as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor(Academic Affairs).
A distinguished scholar, engineer, researcher and university administrator, Prof. Gitau brings to the office more than 35 years of academic, professional and leadership experience in higher education, engineering practice, institutional management, strategic planning and public service. Widely respected within academic and professional circles, he has built a reputation as a transformative yet soft-spoken leader whose approach combines humility, professionalism, systems thinking and collaborative engagement.
Prof. Gitau takes over from Prof. Margaret Jesang Hutchinson, who has served for the last one year as Acting Vice-Chancellor and provided stewardship during the transition period. The University Council commended Prof. Hutchinson for her dedication, stability and commitment to institutional continuity.
Prof. Gitau’s journey at the University of Nairobi spans more than two decades. He joined the University in 2002 as a Lecturer in the Department of Environmental and Biosystems Engineering and steadily rose through the academic and administrative ranks through merit, scholarship and service. He served as Senior Lecturer from 2008 to 2014, Associate Professor from 2015 to February 2023 and attained the rank of full Professor in March 2023.
Over the years, he has held several senior leadership positions at the University of Nairobi, including Chairman of the Department of Environmental and Biosystems Engineering from 2011 to 2017, Acting Dean of the then School of Engineering in 2017, substantive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering from March 2019 to June 2024 and Acting Principal of the College of Architecture and Engineering on different occasions. Since August 2024, he has served as Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, where he has played a central role in advancing academic reforms, strengthening quality assurance systems and accelerating the University’s digital transformation agenda.
His appointment marks a historic milestone for the University of Nairobi’s Faculty of Engineering, as he becomes only the second Professor from the Faculty of Engineering to be appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University after Prof. Francis Gichaga, one of Kenya’s most distinguished engineering scholars and former Vice-Chancellor. Like Prof. Gichaga, Prof. Gitau is widely known for his calm demeanor, consensus-building leadership and deep commitment to academic excellence and institutional development.
An accomplished Agricultural and Biosystems Engineer, Prof. Gitau is a registered Consulting Engineer with the Engineers Board of Kenya and a respected voice in engineering education, mechanization, renewable energy systems, irrigation technologies, climate adaptation and sustainable infrastructure development. He has supervised numerous postgraduate students, published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and contributed significantly to policy, curriculum development and professional accreditation processes in engineering education.
Throughout his career, Prof. Gitau has remained deeply committed to mentorship, community engagement and the advancement of science, engineering and technology education. He has spearheaded outreach initiatives, supported student mentorship programmes, hosted World Engineering Day celebrations at the University and championed the alignment of engineering education with emerging national and global development priorities.
He has also mobilized and managed research grants and collaborative projects involving institutions across Africa, Europe and beyond. Among the projects he has led or coordinated are conservation agriculture initiatives in semi-arid regions, water harvesting and food security programmes, renewable energy and agro-food systems collaborations under ERASMUS+ and Edulink frameworks, as well as climate-smart agricultural technologies aimed at improving livelihoods and sustainability.
Prof. Gitau has been instrumental in engineering curriculum reform and accreditation efforts both locally and regionally. He played a leading role in the review and accreditation of engineering programmes at the University of Nairobi and supported curriculum development processes at several universities in Kenya and the region. He has also actively participated in engineering accreditation discussions aligned to the Washington Accord framework, which seeks to harmonize and benchmark engineering education standards globally. The Washington Accord is an international agreement that recognizes substantial equivalence in accredited engineering degree programmes among member countries and promotes global mobility and recognition of engineering graduates.
As Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and later as Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Gitau served in several strategic committees responsible for institutional planning, academic quality assurance and university ranking initiatives. Having chaired and served in ranking and quality-related committees, he takes over leadership at a time when the University is focused on repositioning itself as a globally competitive institution following recent declines in international rankings.
His leadership has consistently been associated with institutional growth, curriculum modernization, digital transformation, research expansion and strategic partnerships. Under his stewardship, the University expanded blended learning systems, strengthened online teaching platforms and enhanced integration of technology in learning and administration.
Prof. Gitau assumes office at a defining moment for higher education in Kenya and the region, as universities reposition themselves to respond to the demands of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), rapid technological change, industry-driven learning, artificial intelligence, research commercialization, climate resilience and the growing need for globally competitive graduates.
His appointment also comes as the University continues to deepen reforms aimed at strengthening research and innovation ecosystems, expanding international partnerships, enhancing digital learning infrastructure and aligning academic programmes with emerging national and global priorities.
Prof. Gitau’s vision for the University is anchored on academic excellence, research impact, innovation, sustainability, student-centered learning and global competitiveness. His leadership is expected to strengthen the University’s strategic positioning as a leading institution in Africa in research, technology, innovation and talent development.
Speaking following his appointment, Prof. Gitau reaffirmed his commitment to collaborative leadership and institutional transformation.
“The University of Nairobi has a proud legacy of scholarship, innovation and service to society. As we navigate a rapidly changing global environment, our focus will remain on strengthening academic excellence, advancing research and innovation, nurturing talent, expanding partnerships and positioning the University as a globally competitive institution that responds effectively to national, regional and global development priorities,” he said.
The University Council expressed confidence that Prof. Gitau’s extensive leadership experience, academic credentials and strategic outlook will guide the institution into its next phase of growth, renewal and international competitiveness.
As the 9th Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Gitau is expected to spearhead initiatives aimed at strengthening graduate employability, expanding research funding, deepening industry collaboration, advancing infrastructure modernization, enhancing international visibility and reinforcing the University’s role in driving Kenya’s knowledge economy and sustainable development agenda.
Prof. Gitau holds a PhD and MSc in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering from Egerton University. He is a Fellow and member of several professional bodies including the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK), the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK), the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE).
Handing over ceremony was held in the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom on 14th May 2026 and was attended by the outgoing acting Vice Chancellor Prof M. Jessang Hutchinson and the University Executive Board.
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