One would assume that to become a Professor one has to be naturally brilliant. But Olive Mugenda begs to differ. She says that she was an average student who just worked really, really hard. The habit of hard work was instilled in her by her mother – a teacher who had to bring up Olive and her three siblings solo after her marriage dissolved. For teenage Olive, her parents’ separation was devastating but witnessing her mother’s resilience gave her a strength that has served her all her life. She believes that nothing comes easy, but dedication, tenacity and consistency results can reap remarkable rewards.
She witnessed this when her hard won First Class honours degree from Kenyatta University resulted in a scholarship to study an MSc in Family and Consumer Economics at Iowa State University. The scholarship did not come at the most opportune of times – she was newly married with a small baby and had to make a decision. Olive’s ever resilient mother stepped in and offered to take care of her baby while Olive pursued her studies. Support systems are integral to every woman’s success and her mother’s gift gave her the space and time to achieve not only her masters but her doctorate as well.
Olive returned to Kenya and joined Kenyatta University as a Tutorial Fellow in 1981 and rose determinedly through the ranks to the point where she was appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Finance and Planning. Then came 2006 – for the first time in Kenya’s history the position of a public university Vice Chancellor was advertised – it was going to be a merit based recruitment. Up until then VC’s were always a Presidential appointment. Without hesitation Olive threw her hat in the ring along with three other men and she came out on top. In 2006 Olive Mugenda became the first female Vice Chancellor of a public university in Kenya. The achievement was exhilarating but then came more hard work – but Olive was used to that. Up every day by 5am to begin the day, she threw herself into her new job with a vision to transform KU into a world class tertiary institution.
During her ten-year tenure KU increased its student numbers, rose to the position 18 in Africa, started a medical school and a vibrant student services centre, and has attracted enough research funding from international sources to lower reliance on government subsidies to under 50% of their running costs. Numbers do not lie. Prof Mugenda’s leadership enabled all round growth – in numbers and in quality that has elevated her alma mater to new heights. The mother of four says delivering the dream was not easy. Responsibility for the welfare, care and growth of over 60,000 students and almost 4,000 staff makes for a life of little sleep but looking back on her journey, she would not change a thing.
Asante Prof Olive Mugenda for showing that hard work wins the race.