President William Ruto has appointed a new Chancellor for the University of Nairobi (UoN).
The Head of State appointed Professor Patrick Verkooijen as the Chancellor of the institution of higher learning.
According to the Gazette Notice published on Friday, the new Chancellor will serve for five years with effect from January 12, 2024.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 38 (1) (a) of the Universities Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint — PATRICK V. VERKOOIJEN (PROF.) to be the Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, for a period of five (5) years, with effect from January 12, 2024,” Ruto directed.
Before the appointment, the professor served as the Chair of the university’s Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies.
Verkooijen is the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) – an international organisation that is dedicated to providing solutions to curbing global climate effects.
“President William Ruto has appointed Prof. Dr. Patrick Verkooijen as the New Chancellor for a five-year term. Prof. Dr. Verkooijen is a distinguished environmentalist with a wealth of experience and expertise. Prof Patrick V. Verkooijen succeeds Dr. Vijoo Rattansi, who served the University with dedication for 10 years,” the University of Nairobi announced.