Prof Bitange Ndemo Appointed VC Of The University of Nairobi

Proffessor Elijah Bitange Ndemo, Former ICT Permanent Secretary and Kenya’s current Ambassador to Belgium, has been appointed as the new Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Nairobi, marking a new chapter for the country’s premier institution of higher learning.

The appointment was confirmed in a letter dated May 2, 2025, from University Council Chairperson Prof Amukowa Anangwe to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba. The letter stated: “The Chairperson of the University of Nairobi Council appoints Prof Elijah Bitange Ndemo as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi with effect from May 2, 2025, subject to ratification by the Council.” Prof. Anangwe also urged the Ministry of Education to act with urgency in facilitating the transition.

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Prof Ndemo is expected to assume the role after concluding his diplomatic assignment in Belgium. In the interim, the University Council has appointed Prof Francis Mulaa, the current Deputy Vice Chancellor, to serve as acting Vice Chancellor for a six-month period.

A renowned scholar and policy leader, Prof Ndemo is widely credited with reshaping Kenya’s digital landscape during his tenure as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication from 2005 to 2013. Among his signature achievements was leading the development of The East African Marine System (TEAMS), a pioneering submarine fibre-optic cable that drastically slashed the cost of internet and mobile communications in Kenya.

Working alongside then Minister Mutahi Kagwe, Ndemo played a pivotal role in launching East Africa’s first major fibre optic project an initiative that laid the foundation for Kenya’s digital transformation.

Prof Ndemo also championed several critical initiatives that helped position Kenya as a regional technology hub. These included the development of the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, which created new digital job opportunities; the reduction of mobile termination rates (MTRs), making mobile communication more affordable; and the launch of the Kenya Open Data Initiative, which promoted government transparency and citizen engagement.

He also played a key role in nurturing innovation spaces like iHub and mLab, which became incubators for tech startups and digital talent. Notably, he was instrumental in the early conceptualization of Konza Technopolis, Kenya’s ambitious smart city project aimed at driving knowledge-based economic growth.

His return to academia as the head of Kenya’s oldest and most prestigious university is expected to usher in a renewed focus on digital innovation, research excellence, and institutional modernization.

The University Council, education stakeholders, and Kenya’s tech ecosystem will be closely watching Prof Ndemo’s leadership as he transitions from diplomacy back to academia.