The Vice Chancellor of the Cooperative University of Kenya, Prof. Bernard Chitunga, has spoken publicly about the leadership lessons he drew from a Friday meeting with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi at his Mululu home in Vihiga County.
The engagement, which Chitunga described as a courtesy visit, focused on mentorship, public service, and leadership values.
In a statement shared on X, Prof. Chitunga said the meeting provided an opportunity for personal reflection and professional growth.
He noted that his interactions with the Prime CS continue to shape his development as an academic administrator and emerging national leader.
According to Chitunga, Mudavadi offered what he termed consistent intellectual and moral guidance, grounded in decades of experience in public service.
He credited the Prime CS’s long career in Kenyan politics with offering practical lessons on leadership that go beyond formal office, particularly in a country where governance continuity and institutional memory remain key public concerns.
Chitunga further pointed to Mudavadi’s approach to leadership as one anchored in long-term responsibility rather than short-term political gain.
In his remarks, he described this outlook as an example of intergenerational stewardship, a principle he said remains relevant for leaders navigating Kenya’s evolving political and institutional landscape.
“I remain deeply grateful to His Excellency for his mentorship and fatherly counsel, which continue to inspire and elevate my journey,” Chitunga said in the statement, attributing his reflections directly to the Friday engagement.
Mudavadi, who currently serves as Prime Cabinet Secretary, has held various senior roles in government over several decades, including as Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister.
His continued engagement with leaders in academia and other sectors places him among senior public figures who maintain influence beyond formal political processes.
The Cooperative University of Kenya, a public institution with a mandate focused on cooperative development, leadership, and enterprise education, has in recent years emphasized governance, ethics, and public service in its academic leadership agenda.
Chitunga’s remarks situate the meeting within a broader tradition in Kenya where senior political figures provide informal mentorship to professionals in public institutions.
His comments, however, remained focused on personal experience, with no reference to policy discussions or political commitments arising from the visit.