Dr. Benard William Chitunga, PhD, is an International Civil Servant and Global Development Leader with experience and expertise in partnerships, development concessional finance, and multilateralism in Africa, Europe, Latin America and Asia. He has been appointed as the Chancellor of The Co-operative University of Kenya for a five-year term, effective January 10, 2025. His appointment was formalized vide Gazette Notice No. 387, in accordance with the Universities Act No. 42 of 2012, by His Excellency Dr. William Samoei Ruto, the President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Forces.

Dr. Chitunga becomes the second Chancellor of The Co-operative University of Kenya, succeeding the late Hon. Joseph Nyagah, who served as the institution’s inaugural Chancellor. He also holds the distinction of being the youngest Kenyan ever appointed as a Chancellor in the history of the country.

Currently, Dr Chitunga is a Partnership Specialist and Secretariat- Special Funds Management at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Beijing-China. AIIB is a multilateral development bank and an international financial institution, headquartered in Beijing, China, which enables its 109 member countries and clients to build Infrastructure for Tomorrow (i4t)—green infrastructure with sustainability, innovation, and connectivity at its core.

Previously, Dr. Chitunga worked at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), based at the Headquarters in Cote D’Ivoire, Abidjan as a Senior Officer for Partnerships, Donors, and Special Projects. He was the Banks’ secretariat to the USD 5 Billion Affirmative Finance Special and Trust Funds, where he had the privilege of serving as the Task Manager/Lead during their establishment in 2018.

Dr. Chitunga is a European University Institute (Italy), School of Transnational Governance African Leadership Fellow. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Management from KwaZulu-Natal University, South Africa. Additionally, Dr. Chitunga holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from UGSM Monarch Business School, Switzerland, Masters of Global Business and Sustainability- Social Entrepreneurship from Universita Cattolica Del Sacro-Italy and Post-graduate in Development Strategy and Governance from Bradford University- United Kingdom.

Dr. Chitunga’s dedication to sustainable development is reflected in his personal motto, “Son of Chegulo (village of his birth in Western Kenya) and Africa,” which underscores his deep-rooted connection to his heritage and his commitment to the broader African Continent.

As Chancellor, Dr. Chitunga is poised to leverage his vast experience and expertise to advance the mission and vision of The Co-operative University of Kenya, fostering growth, innovation, and excellence across the institution.