Founded Mount Kenya University
Prof. Gicharu established Mount Kenya University, which grew rapidly to become one of Kenya's largest private universities, with multiple campuses and tens of thousands of enrolled students.
Founder & Board of Trustees Chairman
Prof. Simon
N. Gicharu
, CBS
Founder, Mount Kigali University
Founder & Chairman, Mount Kenya University Group
A visionary educationist whose belief that quality higher education should be accessible across Africa gave rise to one of the continent’s most ambitious academic enterprises — with Mount Kigali University as its proudest milestone.
When the university's foundation was laid, I was very clear in my mind about what we wanted to achieve. We have a mission, to provide an education that transforms lives and societies, not merely to produce graduates, but to produce builders of nations.
Prof. Simon N. Gicharu, CBS · Founder, Mount Kigali University
Academic & Founding Journey
Expanded to Rwanda, The Kigali Campus
Recognising Rwanda's extraordinary trajectory under Vision 2020, Prof. Gicharu established the Kigali campus of Mount Kenya University, bringing world-class academic programmes to Rwanda's capital for the first time under the MKU brand.
Charter Granted, Birth of Mount Kigali University
The Board of Trustees, chaired by Prof. Gicharu, invested in excess of 10 billion Rwandan Francs in state-of-the-art infrastructure. In 2023, the Rwanda Higher Education Council granted the University its Charter, formally establishing Mount Kigali University as a fully independent, accredited institution.
Building East Africa's University of Choice
Under Prof. Gicharu's continued stewardship as Board of Trustees Chairman, MKUR is now embarked on an ambitious trajectory: becoming East Africa's most respected hub for health sciences, business, law, and hospitality education, serving students from across the African continent and the globe.
Honours & Recognition
CBS - Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear
One of Kenya's highest national honours, awarded in recognition of outstanding service to the nation and to the development of education in East Africa.
EBS - Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear
An earlier national honour recognising Prof. Gicharu's distinguished contribution to higher education and institutional development in Kenya.
PhD in Business Administration
Prof. Gicharu's academic credentials include a doctorate in Business Administration, underpinning his strategic approach to building sustainable educational institutions.
Pan-African Educational Leadership
Recognised across East Africa as a pioneer of private higher education, having established campuses in multiple countries and educated hundreds of thousands of graduates.
His Philosophy
