Prof. Stanley Waudo the outgoing VC leaves varsity with head held high
After 11 years at the helm of one of the country’s biggest private universities, Prof Stanley Waudo finally bows out to pursue other interests.
Founding vice-chancellor of Mount Kenya University who took a six-month terminal leave beginning 1st November, 2019 says his contribution to quality in higher education has paid off.
Prof. Waudo listed major growth in student population, creation of campuses, infrastructural development and improved quality of education as some of his achievements.
He cited the establishment of seven campuses and four teaching centres across the country, all approved by the Commission for University Education (CUE) as major milestones.
Student population
Waudo said under his tenure, the university has been keen on quality guidelines set out by various regulatory bodies. Retired President Mwai Kibaki granted MKU a charter on January 26, 2011.
Student population has grown from 2,000 to over 40,000, and between 2014 and 2015, a total of 164 programmes were approved by the university senate and CUE.
The academician said MKU has sent to the job market 95,880 graduates, adding that the university has been a leading employer, with a current workforce of 1,009 teaching, non-teaching, technical and library staff. The university started off with 120 staff.
Prof. Waudo joined MKU in May 2008 when he left Kenyatta University to become the pioneer vice-chancellor of the newly founded institution in Thika.
Prior to joining Kenyatta University, he worked as a graduate assistant at Iowa State University in the US while doing his masters and doctorate degrees from 1980 to 1984.
He holds a PhD in plant pathology and nematology, and joined Kenyatta University in 1985 when he started off as a lecturer and rose through the ranks to a full professor.
“MKU is well grounded in terms of necessary structures for quality training. Kenyan university education has become very competitive but I am happy to say MKU has an edge,” he said.
As Waudo proceeded on terminal leave, an internal memo dated October 28 announced the appointment of Prof. Peter Mwangi as acting VC as plans to competitively hire a substantive office holder begins.
University Chairman Prof. Simon Gicharu said the institution is proud of its pioneer VC due to his “excellent record”.
“We are very happy as a university about Prof Waudo due to his sterling performance, which explains why we added him one year after the expiry of his 10-year term,” said Prof. Gicharu.
Prof. Gicharu said the impending transition will not affect the university in any way since the requisite governance and academic structures are in place.
