In Kenya, Christian college names first female leader

Lydia Wanjiku (photo provided by KCITI)

The Kenya Christian Industrial Training Institute, or KCITI, recently appointed Lydia Wanjiku to its top administrative position. (In the U.S., we call this position “president,” but the term varies from country to country.)
The institute is a non-governmental organization, but has close ties to Churches of Christ. For 14 years, missionary Berkeley Hackett headed the institute.
A news release from the institute says that Wanjiku is the first female head of a college associated with Churches of Christ. That seems like an accurate statement to me. (I know we have many female principals in our K-12 schools, but I can’t think of any female presidents of post-secondary schools associated with our fellowship. Please correct me if I’m wrong.)
Here is more information about Wanjiku from KCITI:

The Board of Governors of the Kenya Christian Industrial Training Institute (KCITI) has appointed Ms. Lydia Wanjiku as the first female head of the college.  She completed her first year as head of the College in Jan 2011.  She took over the 1,000-student institution from longtime missionary Berkeley Hackett, who resigned after 14 years of college administration to return to full- time church work and preacher training.
Brother Hackett’s evangelistic work is overseen by the Saturn Road Church of Christ in Garland, TX.
Ms. Wanjiku grew up in the inner-city slums of Nairobi as the eldest child in a single-parent household.  The little income Lydia’s mother earned as a market woman was augmented by the whole family working together and caring for one another.  The children learned early in life to depend upon the Lord, work hard and never to surrender to adversity.
When KCITI opened its doors in January 1991 Lydia was the first student to enroll. Through hard work and determination she won a scholarship to continue her university education in England. Upon her return to Kenya, she held a variety of posts at KCITI including head of college services, financial manager and most recently as registrar.
As goals for her administration, Ms. Wanjiku has embarked on a program to improve the college’s finances and to complete the process to transform KCITI into a full four-year Christian technical university. To fast-track the latter, she is finalizing collaboration with two large Kenyan universities to coordinate the college’s curriculum and academic standards with the senior institutions.
The Kenya Christian Industrial Training Institute is an internationally accredited two-year Christian technical college with a mission to provide quality technical education at a cost low enough to be affordable for East Africa’s poor families. As well as providing classes for the general student body, the college’s Bible department  hosts the Institute of Practical Christian Ministry to train men for pulpit ministers and edify men already serving as pulpit ministers. The Saturn Road church provides a large portion of the funds needed by the Bible Department, and Brother Hackett is a key teacher in the Institute of Practical Christian Ministry.

• Feedback
  Congratulations Lydia. I had the opportunity to be in the same group with Lydia in an exchange program in USA in 2004. All I could see in her was a sister full of passion and vision to serve the Lord with excellence. She is indeed a model.
  May God grant her more wisdom and good health.
  Charles Chimpeni, Blantyre, Malawi

  Charles Chimpeni

  February, 1 2011

  Congratulations Lydia. Your objectives for the school are noble and we pray that the Lord will bless those desires.

  MICHAEL MUTAI

  February, 1 2011

  Congratulations, Lydia! Enjoy!

  Charles Coulston

  February, 1 2011

  Congratualtions my sister! I am so proud of you, and what you have overcome to achieve this position. You are always in my prayers. Blessings, JR.

  Ms. JR Newton

  February, 1 2011

  We all should agree that those who made this selection acted as best they understood the need and those who could fill that need. The sister is blessed to be recognized as capable and willing to serve.

  Ray Downen

  February, 1 2011

  Congratulations, Lydia. You will have our prayers. Readers of Christian Chronicle.
  Johnny and Jo Anders

  Johnny & Jo Anders

  February, 1 2011

  Lydia, I am so proud of you!!!! KCITI is truly blessed to have your dedication and leadership!!!!

  Johnice Woods

  February, 2 2011

  i thank God for you. was once a student in kcti.(2003-2006) please advice i want to advance in comp engeenering en to be examine by Knec is it possible coz in our time it was city en Guild only

  veronica

  May, 13 2011

  This is wonderful news – I know Wanjiku will do a tremendous job and will be a blessing to KCITI for years to come.

  Scott Sewell

  December, 8 2011

  Congratulations Lydiah my Director, we look forward to your vision and growth of Kciti.

  Geoffrey Kirima

  March, 19 2012