KONZA TECHNOPOLIS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Prof. Raphael Muatine Munavu - Chairman

Raphael Munavu is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi, Chairman of the Presidential Working Party of Education Reforms in Kenya from (September 2022 to present) and a Director at NACOSTI (October 2021 – present).

Prof. Munavu attended Kalamazoo College (B.A. 1967-1970), Wayne State University (M.Sc. 1970-1972), and the University of Detroit (Ph.D. 1972-1975) in the USA. His specialization is in Organic, Environmental, and Industrial Chemistry. 

Prof. Munavu has had an illustrious career in academia and public service for the last 35 years. He served as the Chairman of the Kenya National Academy of Sciences (KNAS) for 19 years (2002- 2021), Chancellor of Laikipia University for five years (February 2013 – February 2018), and Commissioner at the Constitutional Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) for six years (December 2010 – December 2016). 

He was the Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Nairobi (1987-1990), founding Principal of Laikipia College of Egerton University (1990-1992), Vice-Chancellor of Egerton University (1992-1994) Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration and Finance) at the University of Nairobi (1994-1998) and Vice-Chancellor of Moi University (July 14th, 1998 to September 19th, 2002). In addition to regular administrative responsibilities, Prof Munavu spearheaded the establishment of International Programs Offices at the University of Nairobi (1995) and at Moi University (1999) and Privately Sponsored Students Programs at Moi University (1998).

Prof. Munavu has published over ninety (90) refereed and commissioned papers and supervised twenty-one (21) postgraduate students. He has written extensively on the role of Higher Education, Chemistry, Science, Technology, and Innovation in socioeconomic development.  He has also undertaken many consultancies on the environmental impacts of utilizing various natural resources. 

Prof. Munavu is extensively experienced in management and public service. He has held numerous high-impact leadership positions in the education sector. He was appointed Chairman of the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and served in that capacity for ten years (2000-2010). He also served as Hon. Secretary of the Association of Faculties of Science of African Universities (AFSAU, 1986-1992), a Member of the Presidential Task Force on Public Universities Inspection Board (PUIB, 2005-2007) and the Strategy for University Education in Kenya (2006-2008). Prof. Munavu was the founding Chairman of the Council of the South Eastern University College (SEUCO), the precursor of South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) from 2008 to 2013.

Prof.  Munavu has been conferred with the following National Honours: Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW, 1994), and the Elder of the Burning Spear (EBS, 2001) for his services in the Higher Education Sector. In 2000. He was conferred with an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters, Honoris causa (D.Litt)  by Kalamazoo College (USA) in 2001 in recognition of his role in entrenching successful inter-university linkages between universities in Kenya and other foreign universities.  He was also awarded the Hon. Doctor of Science degree by Laikipia University in 2013.

His social vision is to serve society by facilitating novel wealth-creating, empowering and capacity-building initiatives based on education, national heritage, indigenous knowledge, science and technology. He also champions value-adding enterprises based on readily available natural resources and human capacities in Kenya.