Prof Isaac Muthure Macharia.
President William Ruto has appointed Professor Isaac Muthure Macharia as the Chancellor of Karatina University.
In a gazette notice dated April 11, 2025, Ruto said Macharia will serve in the role for the next five years.
The appointment takes effective immediately.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 38 (1) (a) of the Universities Act, 2012, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint— Isaac Muthure Macharia (Prof.) to be the Chancellor of the Karatina University, for a period of five (5) years, with effect from the 11th April, 2025,” reads the gazette notice.
Macharia currently serves as the Equity Holdings Group chairman, a position he ascended to in 2020.
Prof Macharia’s appointment was made by the Equity Group Board on June 30, 2020, following the retirement of David Ansell.
He joined Equity Bank Kenya Board in 2015 and became the chair in 2017.
He is a professor of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Nairobi.
He boasts of a distinguished career in the medical field including holding leadership positions in international professional organisations and consulting for WHO in his area of speciality.
During his tenure as chairman of Equity Bank Kenya, he oversaw the restructuring of Equity Bank Kenya to become a subsidiary of Equity Group Holdings amd enabled the bank to continue registering impressive performance despite a difficult operating environment following the capping of interest rates in September 2016 by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).
Prof Macharia prioritised innovation and use of technology in providing the highest quality of service and experience to customers.
As a chancellor, Prof Macharia is expected to replicate the successes he registered at Equity, especially in championing growth of the institution in all financial aspects.
A chancellor is usually either the executive or ceremonial head of the university or of a university campus within a university system.
In most Commonwealth and former Commonwealth nations, the chancellor is usually a ceremonial non-resident head of the university.
Holders of this role are appointed by the sitting President.
