Renowned Kenyan scholar Prof Egara Kabaji has been unveiled as the new Chancellor of Mount Kigali University in Rwanda.
Prof Kabaji is a distinguished literary scholar, author, and educationist whose career spans more than three decades.
He has served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in Kenya and is celebrated for his contributions to African literature, communication, and higher education.
With over 52 published works and numerous scholarly articles, Prof. Kabaji has become a leading voice in promoting African scholarship and the preservation of indigenous knowledge systems.
He also holds a PhD in Folk Media and Communication from the University of South Africa (UNISA), an MBA in Strategic Management from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), a Master of Arts in Literary Studies from Kenyatta University, and a Bachelor of Education in Literature and English from the same institution.
In his inaugural speech, Prof. Kabaji described the moment as both historic and transformative, calling upon the academic community to reimagine the role of African universities.
“This moment is not just personal; it is historic, for it signifies our collective commitment to the future of African scholarship and the advancement of knowledge rooted in our own soil,” he said.
He envisioned Mount Kigali University as more than a “site of instruction,” urging it to become a “hotspot for the generation of ideas, a laboratory of thought, and a crucible for innovation.”
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Prof. Kabaji underscored the urgent need for Africa to contribute more significantly to global knowledge production, noting that “less than 3% of global scientific publications originate from the African continent.” To address this challenge, he pledged to foster a strong research and publication culture within the university.
As an immediate step, he announced a personal donation of 22 million Rwandan francs to establish two internationally indexed academic journals—one for humanities and social sciences, and another for science, technology, and innovation.
The fund will also support the creation of the Mount Kigali University Press, which he described as “the intellectual engine of a university.”
He further donated several copies of each of his 52 books to the university library, emphasizing the importance of accessible knowledge. “Let us write. Let us research. Let us publish. Let us dream. Let us make Mount Kigali University a lighthouse of knowledge shining from the heart of Kigali to the rest of the world,” he noted.
Dr. Innocent Mugisha, Chairman of the University Governing Body, described the installation as a defining milestone in the evolution of Mount Kigali University.
He praised Prof Kabaji’s distinguished record in scholarship, mentorship, and leadership, stating that it uniquely positions him to guide the university into a new era of intellectual excellence.
Dr Mugisha reaffirmed the Governing Body’s commitment to providing strategic oversight, ensuring accountability, and upholding academic freedom as “the driving force of creativity and intellectual exploration.”
Delivering his address, Professor Simon Gicharu, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors, of Mount Kigali University and Mount Kenya University, described the ceremony as a milestone in the history of Mount Kigali University one that confirms the institution is not merely growing, but transforming lives.
“Prof. Egara Kabaji is a renowned scholar, celebrated author, and respected academic leader. His appointment as Chancellor speaks volumes about his confidence in character, capacity, and wide contribution. His influence has extended beyond borders, into classrooms, leadership forums, literary circles, and academic realms across the continent and beyond,” he said.
He added, “Within the context of university education, the Chancellor is more than a leader; he is the embodiment of rich academic values the guardian of the institution’s vision, the torchbearer of academic integrity, and the moral conscience of the university,” he said. “Prof. Kabaji’s passion for writing, publishing, and academic mentoring gives our university a definite compass and a mission that is second to none. This aligns with our belief in a faculty that does not just teach, but also engages with the community and creates knowledge. Prof. Kabaji is the perfect match for us.”
Mount Kigali University has undergone incredible transformation in academic and physical resources powered by strategic investment, stakeholder trust, and visionary governance.
The university has continued to expand her academic resources through the construction of the 8-Floor Tuition Block — expanding lecture spaces, laboratories, and teaching infrastructure for a growing student population.
By John Kamau
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