WHERE THERE WAS NOTHING, NOW STANDS A UNIVERSITY

By Bravion Mureti Professor Erastus Njoka Biography

When I first stepped onto the barren land that would one day become Chuka University, there were no lecture halls, no libraries—just a dream and the determination to make it happen. Through unwavering leadership, strategic planning, and a commitment to excellence, I transformed an empty landscape into a thriving institution of learning. This is the story of how one visionary leader built a university from scratch, shaping the future of education in Chuka, Tharaka-Nithi.

I was born in Chuka, Meru. My father, Njoka, was a teacher and an active member of the student body in both primary and secondary schools. I believe I inherited my leadership skills from him. I attended school in Chuka before proceeding to Ciakagu High School in Embu for my secondary education, from Form One to Form Four. Later, I joined Nkubu High School in Meru for Form Five and Form Six.

After completing my secondary education, I earned a scholarship to study at Friendship University in Moscow, Russia. I later received another scholarship to the University of Jerusalem in Israel. My academic journey continued at Galilee International Management Institute, and I furthered my studies in China, Germany, and Britain. During these experiences, I observed how people worked and promised myself that when I returned home, I would make a meaningful impact.

Upon my return to Kenya, I realized that the eastern region of the country had no university. I approached our politicians and asked, "Since you are in the government, what can we do about this?" They told me they were trying but needed my advice. After discussions, we agreed on the need to establish an institution—one in Chuka( a branch of Egerton University) and another in Nchiru (Meru University Of Science And Technology). Through our collective efforts, we successfully established a university in Chuka.

When Chuka University was founded in Tharaka-Nithi, there was nothing—no roads, no infrastructure. However, by working closely with local leaders like Muthomi Njuki and Kithure Kindiki, we convinced President Mwai Kibaki to allocate funding for the project. As a result, Chuka town was finally tarmacked, marking a significant milestone in the region's development.

For the past nine years until February 2022, I served as the vice-chancellor of Chuka University in Kenya’s Mount Kenya region, an institution that I helped build from scratch.

My last and final term as vice-chancellor was set to end in June next year, but instead, I chose to step down and run for the gubernatorial position of Tharaka-Nithi, the county where I was born and where the university is located.

I have been part of the university since 2005, but leaving the job more than a year before my term ended was not a difficult decision. I have served society through academia, and now I am ready to serve my community in a different capacity—as governor.

I have seen it all as a leader managing a 20,000-student institution with 1,000 staff members, I said, adding that my leadership journey began during my student days in Russia and continued throughout my teaching career. I may have gained extensive leadership experience, but over the past year, I have had to navigate Kenya’s notoriously dirty politics after my gubernatorial ambitions became public.

My opponents wrote to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), accusing me of forging academic certificates back in the 1980s to gain admission to the People’s Friendship University in Russia, where I pursued my studies up to the doctoral level. The allegation surprised me, but it did not shake me because I knew it to be false. The EACC cleared me of the allegations in September last year. To me, this was nothing more than an attempt to taint my name, especially since no audit issues were raised during my tenure as vice-chancellor.

This was meant to tarnish my reputation, but it has not worked. They resorted to this after realizing they could not accuse me of financial impropriety. In fact, not a single case of student riots occurred during my time at the university, and this seemed to make some people desperate.”

Beyond the bricks and mortar, Professor Erastus Njoka has cultivated a culture of excellence, innovation, and inclusivity, shaping generations of scholars and leaders. As they step down or look ahead to the university’s next chapter, their legacy remains—etched in every classroom, every research breakthrough, and every graduate who walks out ready to change the world.

While the future holds new challenges and opportunities, one thing is certain: this institution, Chuka University, born from sheer determination and an unshakable belief in the power of education, will continue to shine as a beacon of knowledge for years to come.