Kenyatta University has appointed Professor John Okumu as its substantive Vice-Chancellor, ending a six-month stint in an acting capacity, with the new university head outlining an ambitious agenda centred on financial recovery, curriculum reforms and improved student welfare.
Speaking after his appointment, Prof Okumu thanked the University Council, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and the Kenyatta University community for the confidence they had placed in him.
"Our core mission is teaching, research and community service," he said, adding that his administration would focus on strengthening these pillars while preparing the institution for major changes in higher education.
A key priority, he said, is preparing the university for the Competency-Based Education (CBE) transition expected by 2029.
Prof Okumu said the shift would require universities to redesign academic programmes, retrain lecturers, invest in practical learning facilities and secure additional funding.
"The resources required for laboratories and practical training are significant. We must engage the government and other stakeholders to ensure we are ready to deliver on our mandate," he said.
The Vice-Chancellor acknowledged that Kenyatta University, like many public universities, continues to grapple with financial constraints arising from historical funding gaps and a sharp decline ink self-sponsored student enrolment since 2016.
He revealed that the university had developed a financial turnaround strategy in collaboration with the University Council and management, which has already been presented to peers and will soon be discussed with the Ministry of Education.
The strategy seeks to address pending bills, strengthen internally generated revenue and improve the university's financial sustainability.
"Our hope is that within the next year we will make significant progress in managing pending bills and strengthening our income-generating activities," he said.
Despite the financial challenges, Prof Okumu assured parents and students that the quality of education and student welfare would remain a top priority.
He noted that Kenyatta University remains one of the country's most sought-after institutions, having received 11,244 student placements through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), with the figure expected to rise after transfers.
He also announced that the university had partnered with the Affordable Housing Board to construct accommodation for 2,500 students to ease the housing shortage.
"We remain committed to providing quality education, taking care of our students' welfare and continuously reviewing our curriculum to meet changing market demands," he said.
On medical training, Prof Okumu said the university had signed a memorandum of understanding with Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), allowing medical and nursing students to access the facility for clinical training.
He said the university would continue engaging the hospital's management to secure more training space for students while implementing other areas of the agreement.
The Vice-Chancellor also pledged to fill key leadership positions currently held in an acting capacity, including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Administration and Finance, once approvals are received from the Public Service Commission.
He expressed confidence that most vacancies would be filled within the next three months.
Prof Okumu said Kenyatta University had already begun preparing for CBE by reviewing programmes in the School of Education and training academic staff, even as it awaits the national implementation framework from the Commission for University Education.
"We cannot afford to wait until the last minute. Preparing early will ensure we are ready when the framework is released," he said.
University Council Chairperson Professor Clara Momanyi said the appointment marked an important milestone for the institution following a smooth leadership transition.
She praised Prof Okumu's leadership during his acting tenure, describing him as humble, hardworking and committed to the university's growth.
"We have seen tremendous effort from him over the last six months and we believe he is capable of delivering the university's mandate," she said.
Prof Momanyi acknowledged that financial challenges remain one of the university's biggest hurdles but said the Council was implementing measures to improve the performance of income-generating activities.
She said several university facilities, including hostels, would be renovated and upgraded to increase revenue.
The Council Chairperson also noted that pending bills affecting public universities had become a national issue, with institutions collectively facing liabilities estimated at about KSh100 billion.
She assured staff that appointments to substantive leadership positions would continue once the necessary approvals are received, adding that the current acting officials remained competent and had ensured uninterrupted operations.
"We are confident that the university is on the right path and that together we will overcome the challenges facing the institution," she said.
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