A new Grants Management Technical Board has taken over from the outgoing pioneer team which has served the Directorate since 2019. The transition ushers the Directorate of Grants Management into a new era.
Reflecting on the milestone, Director of Grants Management, Prof. Naomi Maina, said the occasion was one of gratitude and anticipation…, noting that the outstanding achievements of the pioneer board members deserved to be honored.
The Director was speaking during the handing over ceremony on August 26 2026 at the Old Boardroom, which brought together the outgoing technical board members and the new team.
“We appreciate and celebrate the milestones even as we look forward to the future, we acknowledge the positive contribution of the technical board in building a strong foundation,” Prof. Maina stated, commending the outgoing board members for laying the solid groundwork upon which future success of the Directorate would be anchored.
The Outgoing Chairman of the Technical Board, Prof. Daniel Sila, described by colleagues as a visionary leader, urged the incoming board to build on the momentum already generated.
“You need to catalyze efforts from where we are, inspire and motivate each other,” he emphasized “don’t spend time criticizing, add value,” said Prof. Sila.
For the past seven years, the outgoing team was distinguished as an industrious, forward thinking and pioneering unit credited with establishing the very framework of grants management at the university, an achievement that has since become the bedrock of JKUAT’s research and donor engagement architecture.
While accepting the reigns of leadership, the new Chairman of the Grants Management Board, Prof. Hiram Ndiritu struck a tone of optimism, pledging to steer the board with an open mind and adaptive resolve. He gave an assurance that the board members would approach emerging challenges in an innovative style.
The tenure of the new board constituted by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Victoria Wambui Ngumi, will run for two years. The board members are: Prof. Ndiritu (Chair), Prof Naomi Maina (Secretary, Director DGM), Prof Johnson Kinyua, Dr. Karanja Kabare, Dr. Shem Kuyah, Dr. Cecilia Mweu, Dr. Rebecca Maina, Dr. Kellen Njiru, CPA Mary Ngugi and Mr. Richard Wokabi.
The Board’s core mandate is to provide strategic direction to the Directorate of Grants Management, safeguard alignment with JKUAT’s institutional interests and ensure the sustainability and effective performance of the office as it continues to serve the university’s research and donor partnership interests.
