Professor Olive M. Mugenda was installed as the second Chancellor of KCA University on Friday 21st February 2020. She took over from Professor Arthur Eshiwani whose term came to an end on 31st December 2019.
Professor Eshiwani joined the University Board of Directors over two decades ago. In 2007 the University acquired a Letter of Interim Authority, the University Board of Trustees then appointed him as the Founding Chancellor, a position he held for 13 years.
In her acceptance speech, Professor Mugenda who is the former Vice-Chancellor of Kenyatta University said she will use her vast experience in academia field to elevate KCA University.
“I will build on the pillars in my book titled, Building Blocks for Institutional Transformation: Experiences from Kenyatta University to better KCA University”, she said. She also said she was very impressed by the strong culture and discipline among the students at the institution.
Professor Mugenda was presented with instruments of office which included the University Flag, Charter and Logo in the investiture attended by the University Board Trustees, University Council, Representative of Chancellors from Public Universities, KCA University Vice Chancellor, Vice Chancellors from other Universities, and Partners among others.
Professor Mugenda is a professional is Home Economics. She later became a lecturer specializing in women’s education, home economics, statistics and research methodology.
Part of her contribution was on the restructuring and diversification of the home economics curriculum at Kenyatta University where she prioritized emerging topics such as environmental sciences, public health and HIV-Aids management.
She progressed to become Head of Department, Dean of Faculty and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Finance, Planning and Development. These involved a lot of administrative and financial responsibilities.
Professor Mugenda later rose through the ranks to head the Institution as the Vice-Chancellor. She spearheaded the transformation of the institution in many ways including growth in students’ enrolment, infrastructure development and expansion, staff welfare and introduced market driven programmes. She ably turned the University into an entrepreneurial and research institution and championed innovation in academics, administration and research.
One of her major accomplishments is the establishment of a 650-bed Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital (KUTRRH).
Professor Mugenda has contributed greatly to academia in publications of scholarly works and several fundraising. She has many publications in scholarly journals and authored several books. Some of the key publications include;
-
Research Methods: Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Methods Approaches, third edition, 2019 and Research Methods Dictionary, 2012 which she co-authored with her husband the Late Professor Abel Mugenda.
-
Building Blocks for Institutional Transformation: Experiences from Kenyatta University, 2018 which she wrote after completing her tenure at Kenyatta University.
Professor Mugenda spearheaded the fundraising for Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital and Chandaria Innovation and Incubation Center at Kenyatta University.
She is a recipient of several awards, fellowships in research and science in Sub-Saharan Africa.
and distinguished awards for her exemplary performance.
Professor was awarded the Ernst & Young Life Time Achievement Award- 2014; Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS) Presidential Award- 2011 and Elder of Burning Spear (EBS) Presidential Award – 2006.
In February 2016, she was honored by the French Government through the French Embassy with the order of Academic Palms – a national order of France for Distinguished Academics and figures in the world for her efforts in steering the University’s growth.
In the year 2008, she was awarded the Iowa State University Distinguished Alumni Award. She was awarded the ESAMI Meritorious Award for exemplary academic performance in the MBA program, of 2005/2007.
In October 2013, Professor Olive Mugenda was appointed Chairperson of the Council of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. The Association is the oldest International Universities Network, with over 500 Universities, in 37 countries as members with its secretariat based in London, United Kingdom.
She was also the Vice President of International Association of Universities based in Paris for Seven years.
In February 2016, she was honored by the French Government through the French Embassy with the order of Academic Palms – a national order of France for Distinguished Academics and figures in the world for her efforts in steering the University’s growth.
In the year 2008, she was awarded the Iowa State University Distinguished Alumni Award. She was awarded the ESAMI Meritorious Award for exemplary academic performance in the MBA program, of 2005/2007.
In October 2013, Professor Olive Mugenda was appointed Chairperson of the Council of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. The Association is the oldest International Universities Network, with over 500 Universities, in 37 countries as members with its secretariat based in London, United Kingdom.
She was the Vice President of International Association of Universities based in Paris for Seven years.
Professor. Mugenda has played key role in the private sector; She is the Founder and Director for Centre for Innovative Leadership & Governance (CLIG) based in Nairobi since March 2016 to date. Training of University Leaders on Leadership, Human Resource Development and Fundraising among others. Non-Executive Director, UBA Kenya Bank Ltd, (March 2016 to date). Member, Steering Committee, Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI), based in (Nairobi 2015 to 2017).
She is currently a Commissioner, Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Kenya and The Chairperson Board of Directors, Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) and Chancellor KCA University.
