Hounded Out of Moi University, Prof. Ayiro Finds Success at Daystar

Daystar University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Laban Ayiro is one of Kenya’s most accomplished education administrators. He has taken on several leadership roles including at some of Kenya’s top universities in Moi University and Daystar.

Previously, his career saw him serve as Principal of a number of high schools including Sunshine Secondary School in Nairobi and Lubinu Boys  High School in Mumias East. He went on to work in the Ministry of Education in roles including Provincial Director of Education, Deputy Director of Staff Training and Senior Deputy Director for Policy and Planning.

But it was his short-lived stint at the helm of Moi University, one of Kenya’s largest universities, that he has come to be associated with in the public eye. He served as Vice-Chancellor in an acting capacity between September 2016 and March 2018.

Leaders from Uasin Gishu county infamously stormed the university’s main campus in September 2016 opposing reported plans to appoint him as the substantive VC of Moi University. Led by Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago, his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Alex Tolgos, MPs Oscar Sudi (Kapseret) and Silas Tiren (Moiben), they threatened to stop an upcoming graduation ceremony if Prof. Isaac Kosgey (now Moi University VC) was not named as the substantive VC to replace long-serving Prof. Richard Mibey.

Since being hounded out at Moi, Ayiro has found success at the private Daystar University. He was appointed as Vice Chancellor of Daystar in February 2019, less than a year after he exited Moi University.

At Daystar, he has been leading efforts to expand the university, including the building of a Nursing School worth Ksh500 million. Ayiro spearheads several other programs at Daystar, including partnerships and collaborations with local and international institutions.

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“In my time at Daystar, I want to make this institution a model that other universities can look up to. When I arrived, the university had around 3,000 students, that number increased to 5,700 students. It tells you that parents see the changes we are making,” he told Africa Live.

He continues to advocate for greater research to be published by Africa’s universities and wants more funding channeled to research. In the wake of the pandemic, he has also been pushing for the strengthening of universities’ e-learning capabilities.

“We also have local partnerships with St Pauls University, Nairobi University and we are also working on a joint grant to mitigate the impact of COVID in the area of e-learning together with 5 universities. We have drafted a proposal to the African development bank so that we can get funding for infrastructure to enhance our digital and e-learning plans,” he disclosed.

Ayiro has also taken up tree planting as an initiative that is close to his heart. He revealed that Daystar had engaged the Ministry of Environment to lead a national tree-planting program.

“When I came in 3 years ago I decided to engage in tree planting and to date, we have planted 15,000 trees,” he stated.

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