Rosalind Mutua was the first vice chancellor of Kiriri Women’s University, Kenya’s first and only women’s university. Kiriri was set up in 2002 to bridge the gap in gender representation of women in higher education and to improve and contribute to the economic and social development of the country.

The author of Development of Education in Africa, Mutua also served as the deputy vice chancellor in charge of research, production and extension at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). Her keen interest in promoting women’s education saw her join the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE)
as a full member. Mutua started her career as an assistant secretary at the East African Community in Nairobi before moving to the ministry of education as an education officer. It was during this time, that she decided to make deliberate steps to pave way for women to study science and technology.

Brought up at a time when education for girls was not emphasised, Mutua grew to understand the importance of education. Her rich contribution and influence to the education sector has given women the courage to enroll and pursue science and technology related courses.

In 1971 the former Vice Chair for the Commission for Higher Education (now the Commission for University Education) enrolled at the University of Nairobi for a master’s degree, teaching there after she graduated. After a while, she moved to Kenyatta University where she rose through the ranks to become a senior lecturer. She served as
director of the African Centre Curriculum Development in 1984. In 1990, Rosalind’s hard work and determination saw her promoted to the post of deputy principal at the Jomo Kenyatta University College of Agriculture and Technology.

She retired in 2007 after running the women’s university for five years.