Prof. Kiama is the new VC
Prof Stephen Gitahi Kiama is the new University of Nairobi (UoN) Vice-Chancellor (VC).
In a letter signed by the Chair of a Council, Prof. Julia Ojiambo, the newly appointed VC will serve a five-year term, effective January 5, 2020.
He takes over the realms from Prof. Isaac Mbeche who has been serving as Vice-Chancellor on an acting capacity since July 2019, when Prof. Peter Mbithi was sent on compulsory leave.
Prof. Kiama was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Human Resource and Administration and the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor in-charge of Finance, Planning and Development.
Previously he served as the Principal, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences from 2016 to 2019, Director of Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies from 2010 to 2016, Chairman of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology from 2005 to 2010, Acting dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 2014 and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine from 2003 to 2010. He played a key role in conceptualizing and actualizing the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies during his tenure as the Director, Associate Dean and Chairman of the Department.
Prof. Kiama holds an earned doctorate degree in Structural Biology from University of Bern in Switzerland. He is an accomplished scholar with proven track record in formulating and managing academic programs and on research and publication. He has over 16 years’ experience in management and leadership positions at the University of Nairobi. He is the founder Director of Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies
Prof. Kiama was employed by the University of Nairobi upon graduation in 1990 as an assistant Lecturer in the Department of Veterinary Anatomy. Since then he has risen through the ranks to positions of Lecturer (1995), Senior Lecturer (2002), Associate Professor (2012) and Professor (2016).
He has been actively engaged in various societal leadership roles.
In order to hone his strategic and transformative leadership skills, Prof. Kiama has successfully completed various programmes on strategic leadership and development.
Kiama is an accomplished scholar with a track record in formulating and managing academic programs and supervising and mentoring Postgraduate students. His academic and research career has been exemplary as demonstrated by several publications in peer review journals. To date he has co-authored over 149 journal and conference publications.
