MKU appoints new Chancellor, Council chair and member

The Mount Kenya University (MKU) Board of Directors has appointed Prof. John Struthers as the new Chancellor in a recent raft of appointments in the university.

Prof John Struthers is an experienced scholar, respected economist and effective leader with more than 40 years’ experience in academia, research and administration in United Kingdom and African universities.

He has published widely in a range of notable economics journals. A longstanding member of the Westminster Africa Business Group in London, he was appointed Honorary Consul for Ethiopia in Scotland in 2015. Prof Struthers has gained professional recognition from various bodies. In 1993, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London (FRSA) and in 2007, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA, UK).

The Board also appointed Prof. Serem and Ms. Olubayi as Chairperson and member of the University Council.

Prof. Serem, a seasoned educational administrator and researcher, holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D) degree in Administration of Higher Education from the University of Wyoming, USA.

He is Professor in the Department of Educational Management and Policy Studies, Moi University. He has served as Head of Department, Dean, Principal, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Ag. Vice Chancellor in various universities in Kenya.

As the pioneer Principal of Narok University College, he nurtured the institution until it was awarded Charter in February 2013. Prof Serem was also among the pioneer staff of Maseno University College, which was established in 1990. He is a member of several professional associations, among them the Kenya Institute of Management (KIM) where he currently is a full member of the Board of Fellows.

Ms. Olubayi, a renowned educationist and entrepreneur, holds a Master of Education Degree in Educational Administration and Planning from The Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).

She also holds a certificate in Transformational Leadership from the International Leadership University (ILU). Ms. Olubayi has taught in various high schools and lectured part-time in Educational Management and Philosophy of Education at Tangaza College and Marist International College.

Ms. Olubayi is the founder and Director, St. Nicholas Teachers Training College, St. Nicholas Junior Academy & St. Nicholas Centre for Professional Studies. She has served the education sector in various capacities in both the public and private sectors. She is a member of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD); Secretary of the Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA) Nairobi County, and Chairperson of KPSA Embakasi Sub-County; Member of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) Education Board and; Regional Chairperson of Kenya Early Childhood Education Private Institutions Associations (KECEPTIA). She is also a pioneer trainer in the CompetencyBased Curriculum (CBC).

All the appointments were made in compliance with the provisions of the Universities Act No. 42 of 2012, Sec 38 on appointment of a chancellor of a private university and pursuant to the Mount Kenya University (MKU) Charter 2011, Sec 9 and the provisions of the Universities Act No. 42 of 2012, Sec 35 on appointment of a Council of a private university and pursuant to the Mount Kenya University (MKU) Charter 2011, Sec 13(1).