Mount Kigali University marked a historic milestone on 9 October 2025 with the installation of renowned Kenyan scholar, Professor Egara Kabaji, as its first Chancellor. The grand ceremony was held at the Kigali Paramount Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda. The milestone signifies a new era for the university, one centred on elevating its global academic standing through research, writing, and innovation.
Prof Egara Kabaji is a distinguished literary scholar, author and educationist whose career spans more than three decades. He has served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) 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 address, Prof Kabaji stated: “Great universities are not known merely for their size, wealth, or architectural beauty.” True greatness, he emphasized, rested in research, publications, and service to the community. “[Great universities] are known for their capacity to generate new knowledge, to ask difficult questions, to challenge old assumptions, and to offer solutions to the pressing problems of their societies,” he pointed out. Prof Kabaji expressed his vision for Mount Kigali University to join the ranks of institutions that “dare to dream, to think, and to produce knowledge that changes lives”.
He called on the academic community in Rwanda to strengthen a culture of research and publication, describing it as the moral and intellectual foundation of any university. “A university without a culture of publication is like a lamp without oil. Its light is dim and fleeting,” he stressed. 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.” Prof Simon Gicharu, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of both 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. “This is not an ordinary event,” he said. “Prof Egara Kabaji is a renowned scholar, celebrated author, and respected academic leader.
His appointment as Chancellor speaks volumes about the university’s confidence in character, capacity, and wide contribution to academia. His influence has extended beyond borders, into classrooms, leadership forums, literary circles, and academic realms across the continent and beyond.” Prof Gicharu added that Prof Kabaji’s presence at Mount Kigali University reflects the words of Kwame Nkrumah, that “We face neither East nor West. We face forward”. He commended the theme of the ceremony – “Promoting Scholarly Writing for University Posterity”, as both timely and necessary, especially as African universities seek to decolonise curricula and assert intellectual sovereignty. “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, adding: “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.”
