This archive report was first published on 15 December 2019.
Mount Kenya University (MKU) has marked the end of an era with the departure of its founding Vice Chancellor, Prof. Stanley Waudo, after 11 years of service.
Prof. Waudo joined MKU in May 2008, leaving behind his role as a lecturer at Kenyatta University, where he had risen through the ranks to become a full professor.
Before joining Kenyatta University in 1985, Prof. Waudo had pursued his master's and doctoral degrees at Iowa State University in the US, where he worked as a graduate assistant from 1980 to 1984.
During his tenure, Prof. Waudo oversaw significant growth at MKU, including the establishment of seven campuses and four teaching centers across the country, all approved by the Commission for University Education (CUE).
Under his leadership, the university's student population expanded, and the institution developed its infrastructure. Prof. Waudo also prioritized the quality of education, with MKU sending 95,880 graduates into the job market and employing a workforce of 1,009 staff members, up from 120 at the start of his tenure.
Prof. Waudo holds a PhD in plant pathology and nematology and was praised by leaders at the ceremony for his vision, humility, and dedication to the institution.
As part of the university's efforts to streamline operations, MKU has commenced the process of clearing arrears owed to part-time lecturers, with Ksh. 200 million set aside to pay the first batch of lecturers by December 2020.
