Peter Wanyaga Muthoka's appointment announced in a special gazette notice.
Former President Mwai Kibaki was the University’s first Chancellor after it was elevated to a full-fledged university.
The move leaves Kibabi University in Bungoma County as the only university whose Chancellor is the Head of State.
Peter Wanyaga Muthoka has been appointed the new Chancellor of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, replacing retired President Mwai Kibaki.
In a special gazette notice dated December 14, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the appointment is effective Friday for a five-year term.
Dr Muthoka, not related to renown businessman Peter Wambua Muthoka, takes over from Mr Kibaki who was the institution’s first Chancellor after it was elevated to a full-fledged university ten years ago.
This leaves Kibabi University in Bungoma County as the only one whose Chancellor is the Head of State.
“In the exercise of the powers conferred to me by section 38 (1) (a) of the university Act 2012, Laws of Kenya, I appoint Mr Peter Muthoka to be a Chancellor of must for a period of five years,” stated the notice.
Dr Muthoka has served in senior management positions in the corporate world including at the Central Bank of Kenya and as the managing director of NSE-listed Sasini Tea Ltd #ticker:SASN for five years until he retired in 2008.
He also sat on the board of KCB as chairman between 2004 and 2012, after which he was replaced by Eng Musa Ndeto.
Dr Muthoka was founder and chief executive of the College of Banking and Finance of Kenya, founder and first chief executive of the Export Promotion Council of Kenya and Kenya commissioner general at Expo 2000 in Hannover, Germany.
Irregularities
He takes over at a time when Vice Chancellor Prof Fredrick Otieno is under investigations from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over allegations of abuse of office, misappropriation of funds and employment irregularities.
A damning report by Auditor-General Edward Ouko alleged irregular expenditure of funds amounting to Sh362 million and accused the university of irregular procurement, entering into illegal contracts as well as acts contrary to proper accounting procedures.
Prof Otieno has also been accused of ethnic bias, unethical conduct and involvement in financial mismanagement at the institution.
