KICD wins Champion of Best Governance Award at 15th ICS Kenya Gala Awards

The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has been named the winner of the Champion of Best Governance award in the education and education services sector at the 15th Champions of Governance (COG) Award Gala Dinner in Nairobi. Its council chairperson, Prof Simon Gicharu, was also named first runner-up in the Chairmanship of the Year Award 2026.

The gala was held on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Argyle Grand Hotel along Mombasa Road in Nairobi. It was organised by the Institute of Certified Secretaries (ICS) Kenya.

KICD emerged the winner among players in the education and education-related services category. The award placed it ahead of other institutions in the sector, in recognition of its governance practices, institutional leadership and commitment to sound governance. According to the institute, the latest honour adds to the national and continental recognition it has received for service delivery, leadership and the implementation of its mandate.

The certificate awarded to KICD for the exemplary performance

Prof Gicharu thanked the organisers for recognising individuals and organisations for their contributions to the growth and development of Kenya in different categories. He said the award reflected the responsibility given to him as chairperson of what he described as the most critical government agency in the education sector.

"The award is a reflection of the responsibility bestowed upon me as the Chairperson to the most critical government agency in the education sector, mandated to develop, review, vet, and approve curricula and curriculum support materials for all levels of education below the university. If KICD gets it wrong, the whole country is messed up," he said.

Prof Gicharu assured the country that he and his team would continue to ensure that the institute delivers quality curriculum support materials for effective teaching and learning as Kenya implements the Competency Based Education (CBE) system.

The chairperson was recently reappointed for a further three-year term at the head of the KICD Council, according to the institute, which said the reappointment provides continuity in leadership as it works to deliver on its mandate.

KICD Chief Executive Officer Prof Charles Ong'ondo, in his remarks, thanked the council for its guidance and the staff for their individual professional contributions to the achievement.

"This year has been one of the acknowledgements and appreciation of what the KICD contributes to our beloved Country, Kenya," Prof Ong'ondo said. He urged staff to continue doing their best, and added, "Thanks be to God. God bless KICD, God bless Kenya."

The institute was represented at the gala by Dr Patrick Andika, Deputy Director, Consultancy and Partnership, who received the two trophies from the Champions of Governance Awards on behalf of Prof Ong'ondo.

Continental recognition in Accra

The latest award follows another recognition earlier this year on the continental stage. In Accra, Ghana, KICD was named Best African Development Curriculum Institute of the Year at the 2026 Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards (APSCA).

According to the institute, the two honours reflect a year of recognition for its work and affirm its reputation beyond Kenya's borders. Management said the successive awards demonstrate the collective efforts of the KICD Council, management and staff in advancing the institute's mandate and maintaining high standards of service delivery.

In a message to staff, management expressed its appreciation to the council and employees for their contribution to the institute's progress, and urged them to maintain the momentum and continue delivering on the mandate. The institute also thanked the stakeholders and partners it said had contributed to the award and other successes through their support and cooperation.

KICD is mandated under the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development Act No. 4 of 2013 to develop, review, evaluate, vet and approve curricula, educational programmes and curriculum support materials that meet international standards for basic and tertiary education and training.

The institute plays a part in the implementation of CBE, which Prof Gicharu cited when assuring the country that curriculum support materials will continue to be delivered for effective teaching and learning. The institute said the achievements affirm its commitment to excellence in curriculum development and related services, and reflect the importance of strong governance, leadership, innovation and teamwork.