President William Ruto has appointed Mount Kenya University (MKU) founder and chairman Prof Simon Gicharu as the non-executive chairperson of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) for another three years.
The appointment takes effect from October 16, 2026, according to a Gazette notice dated the same day.
Gicharu, who holds the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS) honour, was first appointed to the position in October 2023 for a three-year term. His new appointment extends his leadership of the institution responsible for developing and reviewing Kenya’s education curriculum.
His appointment comes as the country continues implementing the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system, which is gradually replacing the 8-4-4 system.
KICD plays a central role in shaping the content taught in schools and other learning institutions.
Its responsibilities include advising the government on curriculum matters, developing and reviewing curricula, and evaluating and approving curriculum support materials for use in Kenya.
The institute also conducts research to inform curriculum development, promotes the use of technology in education and supports teacher professional development in collaboration with other institutions.
Established in 2013 under the KICD Act, the institute covers early childhood education, primary and secondary education, adult and non-formal learning, teacher training, special needs education and technical and vocational education and training.
Gicharu’s appointment places him at the helm of an institution whose work directly affects learners, teachers and education providers across the country.
He is best known for founding Mount Kenya University, which has grown into one of Kenya’s private universities. According to the university’s official profile, he is also the founder and chairman of Mount Kigali University in Rwanda and the founder of Cape Media Limited, which owns TV47 and Radio47.
His career in education began with teaching mathematics at Thika Technical Institute after graduating from Kenyatta University. He later established the Kenya Entrepreneurship Promotion Programme, an initiative that provided business and management skills to small-scale entrepreneurs.
The programme eventually evolved into the Thika Institute of Technology, which became the foundation for Mount Kenya University.
MKU received its university charter in 2011, marking a significant milestone in Gicharu’s career as an education entrepreneur. His achievements have also attracted international recognition.
In 2014, he was named the 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.
Beyond higher education, Gicharu has served in leadership roles at 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.
As chairperson, he will provide governance and strategic oversight to the institute’s work, while its chief executive officer and management team oversee day-to-day operations.
The appointment comes at a critical stage for the country’s education sector, with curriculum development, learning materials and the transition to competency-based learning remaining key areas of national focus.
