After retiring as vice chancellor of Kenyatta University on March 18, 2016 after serving for 10 years President Uhuru Kenyatta has appointed Prof. Olive Mugenda as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital board.
She was appointed to the VC in 2006, the first woman to lead a public university in the African Great Lakes area.
In a gazette notice dated April 1, 2019, President Kenyatta named the former Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor to chair the board for a period of 3 years.
In 2006, when the position of Vice Chancellor at the university was advertised, she applied and beat three other applicants, all male, for the job.
As Vice Chancellor, one of the major accomplishments is the establishment of Kenyatta University Referral Hospital, a 500-bed referral hospital, wholly owned by the university, which cost Kshs 10 billion to construct.
In October 2013, Professor Olive Mugenda was appointed Chairperson of the Council of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
The association is the oldest international universities network, with over 500 universities, in 37 countries as members. The secretariat is based in London, United Kingdom.
Prof. Mugenda retired as V.C of the institution on March 18, 2016 after serving for 10 years and turned down a Ksh.100 million send off package awarded to her as appreciation for her exemplary performance.
After her retirement from Kenyatta university, President Uhuru Kenyatta nominated her alongside two others to serve in the judicial service commission.
Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki further appointed Kithinji Kiragu and Gladys Ogallo as members of the hospital board for the same period.
She is also a member of the Judicial Service Commission.
Following the appointment Prof Mugenda thanked President Kenyatta and promised to have the hospital opened as soon as possible and contribute to the government’s healthcare agenda.
Prof Mugenda said she was delighted to be given the chance to complete the vision she had for the hospital particularly in the fight against cancer. She pointed out that the hospital was part of vision 2030 and she will endeavour to make it a centre of excellence in the region.
The hospital is a parastatal under the Ministry of Health and will play a key role in research by lecturers and students at Kenyatta University.