Professor Stephen Kiama Gitahi is the 8th Vice-Chancellor, University of Nairobi. He holds an earned doctorate degree in Structural Biology from University of Bern in Switzerland. He is an accomplished scholar with proven track record in formulating and managing academic programs and on research and publication. He has over 16 years’ experience in management and leadership positions at the University of Nairobi.
Prof. Kiama was employed by the University of Nairobi upon graduation in 1990 as an assistant Lecturer in the Department of Veterinary Anatomy. Since then he has risen through the ranks to positions of Lecturer (1995), Senior Lecturer (2002), Associate Professor (2012) and Professor (2016). Prof. Kiama is currently serving as Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi with effect from Jan 6 2020 to Jan 5 2025. Previously he served as the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Human Resource and Administration at University of Nairobi, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor In-charge of Finance, Planning and Development, Principal College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences from 2016 to 2019, Director of Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies from 2010 to 2016, Chairman of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology from 2005—2010, Acting dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 2014 and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine from 2003-2010. He played a key role in conceptualizing and actualizing the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies during his tenure as the Director, Associate Dean and Chairman of the Department. The late Prof. Wangari Maathai in whose honor the Institute is named, and the 2004 Nobel Peace Laureate spent many days from August 2008 with him where she shared her vision of the Institute. Unfortunately, Prof Wangari Maathai passed on in 2011 barely about 2 years after the Institute was approved by the University of Nairobi Council. By then he was well equipped to actualize the vision.