Name:                                  Dr. Ciriaka Gitonga   

Title/Qualification:             Dr.                                                                  

Position:                              Ag, Registrar Planning, Administration & Finance

Department:                        Office of Registrar (PAF)

Welcome Message

Welcome to the office of the Registrar Planning, Administration and Finance website. This is a platform the University will use to increase efficiency in its communication. Thank you for taking the time to visit the website which enhances knowledge and information sharing.
The office of Registrar is an extension of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Planning Administration and Finance (DVC-PAF) division. Its core mandate is to work with the DVC in ensuring that the eleven departments in the division are well coordinated for efficient delivery of services.

Short Biography

Ciriaka Muriithi Gitonga, PhD, is an accomplished Education Specialist with 30 years of teaching experience, including 17 years in senior leadership roles in Kenyan private and public institutions. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Psychology, a master’s in education, and a Bachelor of Education, with a strong publication record in education. Previously, she served as the Dean of the School of Education and Social Sciences at University Embu and Chairs the Education Deans Forum–Kenya, uniting Deans from public and private universities.

Her leadership extends to national education reform, having been appointed by the President to the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms, where she Chaired the Sub-Committee on Teacher Education and Management Reforms. Ciriaka actively contributes to education policy, community engagement, and youth empowerment, focusing on improving teacher performance and learner experiences.

Her academic credentials include a PhD and MED Educational Psychology from Kenyatta University, a Diploma in Human Resource Management from Cambridge University, and ongoing professional development in educational leadership. She has held key positions such as Director of Quality Assurance and Campus Director at Pan African Christian University, School psychologist at Aga Khan Academy, and Director at Kenya Community Centre for Learning.

Ciriaka has led multiple research projects funded by organizations like the Spencer Foundation and Kenya’s National Research Fund, focusing on parental engagement, youth employability, child protection, and environmental education. She participates in the Technical Committee for University Education, Kenya Bureau of Standards, Child protection networks and is a member of several professional bodies.

Her scholarly work addresses topics such as teacher planning and content delivery, gender influences on subject choice, educational technology uptake, parental involvement, and student self-efficacy. Ciriaka’s dedication to education is reflected in her mentoring, research, and policy impact, making her a respected leader in Kenyan education.