In a move that underscores confidence in experienced leadership in the sector of Higher Education in Kenya, President William Ruto has reappointed Prof. Joseph Mathu Ndung’u as the Chancellor of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. The reappointment, which was announced through Kenya Gazette Notice No. 7618 dated June 20, 2024, extends the tenure for Prof. Ndung’u by another five years with effect from June 21, 2024.
A Distinct Career in Health and Education
Prof. Ndung’u serves as a regional director at FIND, Geneva, since 2022. Before this, he was serving as the head of the NTT division at FIND, testifying to years of experience in medical research and diagnostics.
Academic and Professional Background
Prof. Ndung’u holds a First Class BVM, Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery from the University of Nairobi, and a Ph.D. in normal and aberrant responses in immunopathology of human African trypanosomiasis from University School Scotland. He has over 100 publications to his credit and began his work as an assistant research officer at the Kenya Trypanosomiasis Research Institute, KETRI, in 1985. His rise through the ranks at KETRI culminated in its appointment as Director in 1995.
Contributions to Science and Public Health
The work that Prof. Ndung’u has done in developing new diagnostic tools for neglected tropical diseases has won him great honors to the extent of earning the African Union’s Excellence Award in 2019. He has, therefore, provided a very significant input to the research and control of trypanosomiasis, besides other neglected tropical diseases.
Re-Appointment Welcomed by JKUAT Community
Speaking after attending a wedding, JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, termed the re-appointment of Prof. Ndung’u as a timely move, adding that he is a focused man with result-oriented leadership. She assured the Chancellor that the University community was fully behind him in his quest to increase JKUAT capacity in training, research, innovations, entrepreneurship, and community service.
Prof. Ndung’u responded thus:
Expressing gratitude, Prof. Ndung’u said, “I am delighted to have been reappointed Chancellor of our great university. That is indeed a positive recognition of the governance and performance of JKUAT as a University of Excellence. I thank His Excellency the President, Dr. William Samoei Arap Ruto, for giving me another chance to continue serving our country in that capacity.”
Leadership at JKUAT
The re-appointment of Prof. Ndung’u was viewed as breaking the ice and extending him the opportunity to continue offering leadership in different ways towards the achievement of its strategic goals at JKUAT. With this, his term is expected to drive the vision of the university of becoming a premier of excellence in higher education, especially in agriculture, technology, and innovation.
A Legacy of Excellence
Prof. Ndungu served as the first-term Chancellor of JKUAT from 11th January 2019. He remains a zealous driver in entrenching the culture of excellence and innovation at the University. His re-appointment gives validation to impactful leadership and changed positive trajectory that the institution has taken under his leadership.