Ruto Re-Appoints Chancellor Of Murang'a University
Irina will serve in the role for another five years with effect from October 19.
Marvin Chege 
President William Ruto has announced the reappointment of the Chancellor of Murang'a University of Technology (MUT).
In a Gazette Notice dated Thursday, October 19, Professor Justin Irina was picked to retake the reins at the Murang'a-based university. Irina will serve in the role for another five years with effect from October 19.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 38 (1) (a) of the Universities Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, re-appoint Professor Justin Irina to be the Chancellor of Murang’a University of Technology, for a period of five (5) years, with effect from the 19th October 2023," read the notice in part.
Irina is a professor of Inorganic Chemistry who rose to the rank of Vice-Chancellor of Moi University and eventually, the Chairman of the Council of Pwani University College.
A portrait of reappointed Murang'a University of Technology Chancellor, Professor Justin Irina. /MURANG'A UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
He received a Fulbright fellowship to California State University, Los Angeles, USA in 1979, and a Commonwealth Scholarship, from St. Francis Xavier University Canada. In December 1994, he was awarded the Elder of the Burning Spear (EBS) by the late President Daniel Arap Moi.
Prof. Irina has taught and was a Professor at the National University of Lesotho, University of Nairobi and Moi University.
He has industrial experience where he worked in the Research Laboratory at Shell Refinery in Montreal Canada, and at the quality control laboratory of Shell Company in Mombasa.
He also had stints at the public in management positions where he was the secretary of the Public Universities Inspection Board, Secretary to the Commission for Higher Education (CHE), Kenya, Vice Chancellor of Moi University and former Principal of Chepkoilel Campus College, the founding Dean, Faculty of Science Moi University, among others in his lucrative career.
"Prof Irina is known for his efforts in trying to help the Coast of Kenya to establish a University. He fought and negotiated for long with authorities in Kenya to establish a University at the Coast, a dream which was realized with the establishment of Pwani University College," Murang'a University describes him.
Murang’a University of Technology (MUT) was chartered on October 7, 2016, at State House, Nairobi by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and currently operates under the provisions of the Universities Act, 2012 (Rev. 2016), guidelines issued by the Commission for University Education, University Charter, and Statutes
The University currently offers graduate and undergraduate degrees, diplomas and certificates in Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Science, Pure and Applied Sciences, Business and Economics, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Education, Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. In addition, the University offers a competency-based curriculum for Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET).
Other appointments
Meanwhile, President Ruto appointed Sophia Kutiti to be the chairperson of the Mineral Rights Board for three years.
Chief Justice Martha Koome appointed Nickson Wanjau Mwangi to the Auctioneers Licensing Board, for a term of three years, with effect from October 23, 2023.
Labour CS Florence Bore appointed Timothy Irimu Ruhiu, to be a member of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, for a period of three years.
Education CS Ezekiel Machogu appointed Mike Kuria, Kipkirui Langat, Everline Owoko, Jacqueline Mugo, and Collins Oyuu, the Secretary-General of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) as new members of the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), for a period of three years.
