Mount Kenya University founder Prof Simon Gicharu will continue steering the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) for another three years following his reappointment by President William Ruto.
The appointment, which took effect on October 16, 2026, was announced through a Gazette notice issued on the same date, extending Gicharu’s tenure at a time when Kenya is implementing major changes in its education system.
Gicharu first assumed the position in October 2023. His renewed mandate places him at the helm of an institution central to the development, review and approval of curricula used in schools and other learning institutions across the country.
The reappointment comes as the government continues rolling out Competency-Based Education (CBE), which is gradually replacing the 8-4-4 system. The transition has placed increased attention on curriculum design, learning materials, teacher preparedness and the alignment of education with learners’ abilities and practical skills.
KICD is responsible for advising the government on curriculum matters, developing and reviewing education programmes, and evaluating instructional materials before they are approved for use in learning institutions.
The institute also undertakes research to guide curriculum reforms, promotes the integration of technology in teaching and learning, and works with other institutions to support teacher professional development.
Its mandate covers a wide range of sectors, including early childhood, primary and secondary education, adult and non-formal learning, special needs education, teacher training and technical and vocational education and training.
Gicharu’s leadership will therefore be significant as education stakeholders continue addressing challenges associated with the transition to the new curriculum and ensuring that learning programmes meet national education objectives.
Gicharu's contribution to higher education
Beyond his role at KICD, Gicharu is widely recognised for establishing Mount Kenya University, which received its university charter in 2011. He also founded Mount Kigali University in Rwanda and Cape Media Limited, the company behind TV47 and Radio47.
His career began in teaching, where he taught mathematics at Thika Technical Institute after graduating from Kenyatta University. He later established the Kenya Entrepreneurship Promotion Programme to equip small-scale entrepreneurs with business and management skills.
The initiative eventually developed into the Thika Institute of Technology, which laid the foundation for the establishment of Mount Kenya University.
Gicharu has received several honours in recognition of his contribution to entrepreneurship and education. 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.
He has additionally served in leadership positions at several public institutions, including the Geothermal Development Company, the Water Services Regulatory Board and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation.
As non-executive chairperson, Gicharu will provide strategic direction and governance oversight, while KICD’s chief executive officer and management team remain responsible for the institute’s daily operations.
His new term comes as the education sector continues to focus on strengthening curriculum implementation, improving the quality of learning resources and preparing schools for the demands of competency-based learning.
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