SUSTAINABLE FINANCING
Universities Fund Management
Dr. Edwin Wanyonyi is the Acting Chief Executive Officer/Director General at the Universities Fund, where he excels in cultivating impactful partnerships, driving enterprise initiatives, and implementing effective resource mobilisation strategies. With extensive experience in both public and private sectors, he brings a wealth of knowledge in resource mobilisation, partnership development, and strategic planning.
An alumnus of the United States International Visitor Leadership Programme, Dr. Wanyonyi previously served as the Head of Directorate, Strategy, Planning, and Resource Mobilisation at the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management. He has also worked with prominent organizations such as Adept CN, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations (KARA), and Ernst & Young.
Dr. Wanyonyi holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, an MBA in Strategic Management, and a Bachelor of Business Administration. He is a trained ISO Quality Management System Auditor, a Certified Fundraiser, and a member of the Kenya Institute of Management and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Beyond his professional roles, he has significantly contributed to national and international development efforts, serving on the National Steering Committee of the UNDP Small Grants Programme and the Executive Committee of the Alliance of Conservation Funds in Africa (CAFE). He is also a published author and speaker on leadership, strategy, and resource mobilisation.
Dr Richard Ngali is the Head of Grants Management at the Universities Fund, where he leads grants management, policy research, and standards development to enhance equitable, transparent, and effective financing of public universities.
He brings over 18 years of experience in corporate planning, corporate performance management, and research, with strong expertise in higher education financing strategy and data-driven decision-making. In his role, Dr. Ngali oversees implementation of funding policies and strategic frameworks that support fair and impactful resource allocation to Kenyan universities while advancing accountability, institutional performance, and alignment of higher education financing with national development priorities. He has held leadership roles at the Higher Education Loans Board, overseeing corporate strategy formulation and implementation, performance contracting, research, quality management systems, and enterprise risk management. He began his career in the banking sector, excelling in credit management, banking compliance and enforcement, and monitoring financial performance. He has also contributed to national initiatives in higher education financing reform, institutional performance improvement, and strategic operations management.
Dr. Ngali holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration. He has also completed senior leadership, policy implementation, and strategic management programmes at recognized regional and national leadership training institutions.
Dr. Ngali is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Beyond his professional roles, he an accomplished scholar and academic researcher, with extensive publications in international peer-reviewed journals.
Dr Leah Miano is the Head of Information & Communication Technology at the Universities Fund, where she leads organizational transformation through technology, innovation, and governance excellence. She oversees the Fund’s ICT strategy, digital transformation initiatives, enterprise systems, cybersecurity, data protection, and business continuity frameworks to enhance operational efficiency, accountability, and service delivery. She brings over 17 years of experience in technology leadership across public and private sectors, with a strong background in strategic leadership, digital transformation, governance, and operational excellence.
Previously, Dr. Miano has held senior ICT leadership and technical roles at the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC), Britam Holdings Limited, Benchmark Distributors Limited, and Shelter Afrique, where she was responsible for enterprise systems implementation, cybersecurity frameworks, infrastructure modernization, ERP deployment, and ICT governance reforms. She has led large-scale ICT transformation initiatives including ISO/IEC 27001-aligned cybersecurity implementation and Microsoft 365 and ERP rollouts. She has also contributed to the development of the national university funding model through systems design and digital enablement at the Universities Fund.
Dr. Miano holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration and Management (Strategic Management), a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Strategic Management and Finance, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Software Engineering.
Dr. Miano is a member of the Institute of Directors and the Computer Society of Kenya. Beyond her professional role, she is a published author in leadership, governance, and policy reform, with peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters focused on state corporations’ performance and leadership. She is passionate about mentoring the next generation of leaders and advancing governance excellence and digital innovation.
Ms Elizabeth Nzioki is the Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer at the Universities Fund. In her role, she provides high-level executive support and coordinates the operations of the CEO’s office, including managing executive schedules, facilitating stakeholder engagement, and supporting the implementation of strategic priorities. She also serves as the Quality Management Systems (QMS) Management Representative, supporting the implementation and maintenance of ISO 9001:2015 standards within the Fund.
She brings over a decade of experience in executive support, administration, and quality management, with expertise in strategic planning, budget coordination, stakeholder engagement, compliance, and process improvement. She has supported senior leadership in implementing institutional priorities, coordinating Board and management activities, preparing high-level documentation, and enhancing operational efficiency.
Ms. Nzioki holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Strategic Management from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Public Relations). She also holds a Diploma in Human Resource Management. She has completed the Strategic Leadership Development Programme (SLDP) at the Kenya School of Government and undertaken professional training in quality management systems, governance, risk management, and project management.
Ms. Nzioki is a Certified Chartered Personal Executive Assistant (CPEA), a full member of the Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK), and a member of the Kenya Association of Fundraising Professionals (KAFP).
Ms. Immaculate Kabura Njoroge is the Head of Corporate Communications at the Universities Fund, where she leads strategic communications, digital engagement, and stakeholder relations in support of the Fund’s mandate to expand access to higher education financing. She has over ten years of experience in corporate communications, public relations, digital media strategy, and stakeholder engagement, working across the public, financial, and development sectors.
Ms. Immaculate has been instrumental in driving national awareness and public understanding of the Student Centered Funding Model, strengthening the Fund’s media presence, and enhancing digital platforms to improve access to stakeholders. She has led high impact media campaigns, managed national level stakeholder engagements, and overseen the production of newsletters, publications, and online content that support transparency, accountability, and public trust. Previously, Immaculate has worked in the banking sector, where she handled communications and supported customer engagement within a fast-paced financial services environment. She has also held roles supporting multi sectoral programmes, reporting, and institutional communications, giving her a strong grounding in both corporate and development communication.
She holds a master’s degree in communication studies (Public Relations) from the University of Nairobi. She has additional professional certifications in digital marketing, social media design, strategic leadership, event planning, crisis communication, and knowledge management.
Ms. Immaculate is a full member of the Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK). Beyond her professional work, she has played a key role in advancing institutional branding, sustainability initiatives, and stakeholder engagement programmes, including leading environmental awareness and tree planting campaigns and supporting regional knowledge exchange and partnerships within the higher education financing sector.
CS Jacqueline Wangari Murigi is the Head of Legal Services and Corporation Secretary at the Universities Fund, where she provides strategic legal leadership, strengthens governance and compliance systems, and supports the implementation of sustainable frameworks. She brings over 11 years of experience in legal practice with a strong background in governance, public policy, regulatory compliance, and institutional advisory.
Previously, CS Wangari Murigi served at the County Government of Kiambu, as the Director Legal Services where she supported and coordinated legal and administrative functions within the Office of the County Secretary supporting the County Executive Committee. While at the County Government, she also performed the role of advising boards on corporate governance, statutory compliance, board procedures, and regulatory obligations across the county-owned water service providers
CS Wangari Murigi holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration from Kenyatta University and a Bachelor of Laws (LL. B) from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. She is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a Certified Secretary. She has also undertaken professional development training in corporate governance, public sector compliance, and board advisory practice.
CS Wangari is a member of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and Institute of Certified Secretaries (ICS).
CPA Everlyne Goro is the head of Internal Audit at the Universities Fund, where she oversees internal audit and risk assurance functions, strengthening governance, accountability, and the effective use of public funds in higher education financing. She brings over 10 years of experience in internal audit, risk management, and financial assurance, with a strong background in governance, compliance, and public sector accountability.
Previously, CPA Goro has held roles at Mbaya & Associates, where she was responsible for conducting internal and external audits, risk assessments, and advisory engagements across public and private sector institutions. She has also contributed to strengthening internal control systems and audit practices within public sector and donor-funded programmes.
CPA Goro holds an MSC. in Finance and Accounting from KCA University, as well as Bachelor of Economics from Kenyatta University and is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya (CPA-K). completed the Strategic Leadership Development programme (SLDP) at Kenya School of Government.
She is a member of Institute of Internal Auditors Kenya (IIAK) and Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK). Beyond her professional role, Goro serves as Treasurer of ActionAid International Kenya (AAIK), where she contributes to financial oversight, governance, and accountability in advancing social justice, gender equality, and sustainable development initiatives
CHRP Veronicah Kajira Kirugi is the Acting head of Human Resource and Administration at the Fund, where she provides strategic leadership and oversight of human resource and administrative functions. She brings over thirteen (13) years of progressive experience in human resource management and administration, with demonstrated expertise in leadership, organizational development, employee relations, HR policy formulation, and regulatory compliance.
CHRP Veronicah has held progressive HR roles across the FMCG, roofing, and manufacturing sectors, providing strategic oversight of end-to-end HR and administrative functions. At the Fund, she has repositioned HR as a strategic partner by leading organizational restructuring, strengthening governance and control frameworks, and implementing robust HR policies, performance, reward, and employee wellbeing systems-driving improved operational efficiency and embedding a culture of quality service delivery, and continuous improvement.
CHRP Veronicah holds a Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management) from KCA University and a Bachelor of Business Management from Moi University. She is a Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP-K) and a Certified Human Resource Auditor (CHRA), and has undertaken certification in Senior Leadership Development Programme (SLDP), labour laws compliance, performance management, HR metrics and analytics, knowledge management, risk management, and quality management systems.
CHRP Veronicah is a registered and practicing member of the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM) and actively serves in several institutional committees, including the Human Resource Management Advisory Committee (HRMAC), Productivity Mainstreaming Committee, Health and Safety Committee, Assets and Liability Management Committee, among others contributing to sound governance and strategic decision-making.
Ms. Madina Jarso is the Principal Records Management Officer and is also the Acting Head of Corporate Strategy and Planning at the Universities Fund. In this dual role, she leads the implementation of records and data management frameworks while driving corporate planning initiatives that enhance institutional performance, regulatory compliance, and alignment with national higher education priorities.
With over six years of progressive experience in records and information management, data governance, and organizational compliance, Ms. Jarso has built strong expertise in data quality assurance, ICT systems support, project planning, risk management, and business continuity. She has played a key role in strengthening data integrity, improving operational efficiency, and embedding governance structures that promote accountability and transparency. Her professional experience spans both the private and public sectors, where she has undertaken progressively responsible roles in records administration, ICT systems support, information security, and data processing.
She holds a Bachelor of Information Science and a Diploma in Information Science from Kenya Methodist University and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA). She is also a graduate of the Senior Management Course (SMC).
Ms. Jarso is a member of the Kenya Archivist and Records Managers Association (KARMA). Beyond her core duties, she serves on several institutional committees, including Budget Implementation, Risk Management, Health and Safety, Performance Management, Business Continuity, Corporate Social Responsibility among others. She also supports national initiatives such as the Inua Jamii Social Protection Program, contributing to public sector resilience and sustainable development.
Mr. Titus Macharia Wangeci is the acting Head of Finance and Accounts. He provides strategic leadership in financial management, budgeting, controls, and reporting to ensure prudent stewardship of public resources and effective delivery of the Fund’s mandate.
He brings extensive experience in public sector finance, having built a distinguished career in strengthening financial systems, internal controls, and risk management frameworks within public institutions. His work has been instrumental in enhancing accountability, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting sound, evidence-based financial decision-making aligned with institutional objectives.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (Business Management – Finance) and a Higher Diploma in Human Resource Management. Additionally, he has completed Certification in Strategic Leadership Development and Corporate Governance from the Kenya School of Government, as well as training in Enterprise Risk Management.
Beyond his core responsibilities, Mr. Macharia is committed to promoting sound financial governance and institutional sustainability, contributing to improved service delivery and accountability within the higher education financing sector.