Dr. Bernard William Chitunga was officially installed today as the second Chancellor of The Co-operative University of Kenya in a prestigious ceremony held at the university’s main campus in Karen, Nairobi. The historic event, presided over by President William Ruto, marked a significant milestone as Dr. Chitunga became the youngest individual ever appointed Chancellor of a university in Kenya’s history.

The appointment, formalized through Gazette Notice No. 387 under the Universities Act No. 42 of 2012, follows the passing of the university’s inaugural Chancellor, Hon. Joseph Nyagah. Dr. Chitunga will serve a five-year term.

In his remarks, Dr. Chitunga committed to steering the university toward greater innovation, community empowerment, and academic excellence. He emphasized his vision to strengthen the university’s contribution to the cooperative movement and economic transformation in Kenya and beyond.

Prior to this role, Dr. Chitunga held a senior leadership position at the African Development Bank Group in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. He was instrumental in establishing the USD 5 billion Affirmative Finance Trust Fund and holds two doctoral degrees in Management, among other qualifications.

The installation was attended by government officials, academic leaders, and the university community, all of whom expressed enthusiastic support for the new Chancellor.