Ruto Renews Prof Simon Gicharu’s Tenure as KICD Chair for Three Years

Story Maurice Momanyi

President William Ruto has renewed the tenure of Mount Kenya University founder Prof Simon Gicharu as chairperson of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), extending his leadership of the institution for another three years.

The reappointment, effective October 16, 2026, was announced in a Gazette notice published on the same date, retaining Gicharu at the helm of the agency responsible for developing, reviewing and approving Kenya’s education curriculum.

Gicharu, who holds the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS) honour, was initially appointed to the position in October 2023. His new term comes at a time when Kenya is continuing to implement the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system, which is gradually replacing the 8-4-4 curriculum.

His continued leadership places him at the centre of efforts to shape the country’s education content, learning materials and curriculum policies as schools and other learning institutions adjust to the new education framework.

Established in 2013 under the KICD Act, the institute advises the government on curriculum matters, develops and reviews learning programmes, and evaluates and approves instructional materials used in educational institutions.

KICD also conducts research to guide curriculum development, promotes the integration of technology in teaching and learning, and supports teacher professional development in collaboration with other institutions.

Its mandate covers a broad range of education sectors, including early childhood, primary and secondary education, adult and non-formal learning, teacher training, special needs education, and technical and vocational education and training.

As non-executive chairperson, Gicharu is expected to provide strategic direction and governance oversight, while the institute’s chief executive officer and management team remain responsible for its daily operations.

Beyond his public-sector role, Gicharu is widely recognised for establishing Mount Kenya University (MKU), which has grown into one of Kenya’s private universities. He is also the founder and chairman of Mount Kigali University in Rwanda and the founder of Cape Media Limited, the company behind TV47 and Radio47, according to MKU’s official profile.

His career began in teaching, where he worked as a mathematics teacher at Thika Technical Institute after graduating from Kenyatta University.

He later founded the Kenya Entrepreneurship Promotion Programme, which equipped small-scale entrepreneurs with business and management skills. The initiative subsequently evolved into the Thika Institute of Technology, laying the groundwork for the establishment of Mount Kenya University.

MKU received its university charter in 2011, marking a major milestone in Gicharu’s journey as an education entrepreneur.

His achievements have earned him both local and international recognition. In 2014, he was named Ernst & Young Eastern Africa Entrepreneur of the Year and inducted into the World Entrepreneur of the Year Hall of Fame in Monaco. He also received an honorary professorship from the International University of Management in Namibia in 2016.

Gicharu has additionally held leadership positions at several public institutions, including the Geothermal Development Company, the Water Services Regulatory Board and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation, according to KICD’s official profile.

His reappointment comes as curriculum implementation, teacher preparedness, the availability of learning materials and the transition to competency-based learning remain important issues in Kenya’s education sector.

The renewed term gives Gicharu another three years to provide oversight to an institution whose decisions influence what learners study, how teachers deliver lessons and how education programmes evolve across the country.