Professor Stephen Kiama Gitahi is the 8th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi. He holds a doctorate degree in Structural Biology from the University of Bern, Switzerland under the mentorship of Professor Peter Gehr . His PhD marked a culmination of a long journey of sustained personal illumination driven by an abiding curiosity to broaden the horizons of knowledge.

 As Professor Kiama pursued his scholarly and teaching roles, leadership duties seemed to beckon at every turn. It is in delivering these tasks that he garnered broad hands-on skills, practical knowledge and fundamental proficiencies in key structural, legislative and regulatory frameworks crucial to the effective management of institutions of higher learning. In the fullness of time, he has accumulated a vast wealth of administrative experience, honed his skills in management of people and programmes for set outputs, cut his teeth in leadership and distinguished himself as a capable leader. His progressive rise in leadership roles where he has served in senior management positions at the University of Nairobi over the past 17 years speak to this fact.

In addition, he has exhibited remarkable gift in people management, eye for detail and possesses exemplary skills in financial management, networking, fundraising and resource mobilization. It is for this reason that Professor Kiama was appointed a juror for Wangari Maathai Institute Campus and University of Nairobi Tower design competitions respectively, Golden Climate Awards organized by Light Academy and the Wangari Maathai Scholarship Award.