NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 20 — Professor Kivutha Kibwana has assumed office as Chancellor of the International Leadership University (ILU), with Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, former Court of Appeal President Justice Daniel Musinga and Green Africa’s Kalua Green praising his professionalism and values as critical to the institution’s growth. The leaders said Kibwana’s extensive experience in academia, constitutional reform, public service and leadership would strengthen the university as it pursues its institutional mandate.
Kibwana is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, a Certified Secretary and a Professor of Law whose career spans academia, civil society, politics and public administration. He taught law at the University of Nairobi from 1977 to 2002, rising to become Dean of the Faculty of Law and Associate Professor. He currently serves as Professor of Law at Daystar University and as an Adjunct Professor at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
His public career was shaped by involvement in Kenya’s pro-democracy movement in the 1990s, where he served as spokesperson for the National Convention Assembly and the National Convention Executive Council between 1997 and 2002, according to a citation read at his installation. That work coincided with efforts that contributed to Kenya’s return to multiparty politics and ultimately the constitutional reform process that produced the 2010 Constitution.
Kibwana later entered elective politics, serving as Member of Parliament for Makueni Constituency from 2003 to 2007. He subsequently held ministerial responsibilities in the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President, including portfolios covering Environment and Natural Resources and Lands. In 2006 he served as President of the UN Climate Change Conference, COP12, held in Nairobi. In January 2008 he was appointed Presidential Adviser on Constitutional, Parliamentary and New Affairs, a position he held until September 2012.
He went on to serve two terms as Governor of Makueni County from 2013 to 2022, where he became associated with innovations in devolved governance and public participation. In 2023 he joined the Big Wave Philanthropies-supported African Mayoral Leadership Initiative as an adviser, mentor and coach.
His career has earned several awards and honours, including recognition by the Kenya Community Abroad for his contribution to constitutional reform, the International Commission of Jurists Outstanding Public Servant/Game Changer Award in 2019 and recognition as a leading public servant in 2020. He has also been recognised for his contribution to volunteerism, serving as National Goodwill Ambassador for Volunteerism from 2018 to 2024 and receiving the Volunteer Lifetime Achievement of the Year award in 2024.
At his installation, the citation described Kibwana as a human rights activist, academician, writer and changemaker, noting his studies at the University of Nairobi, London, Harvard and George Washington, as well as theological studies at the African International University. The university said his combination of academic, legal, political and civic leadership experience made him a fitting addition to its leadership as it seeks to advance institutional growth. Kibwana becomes the third Chancellor of the International Leadership University.