Dr. Dinah Mwinzi
Dr. Dinah Mwinzi is a Kenyan, with over 30 years of progressive experience in management and high-level policy in education and training sector. Since October 2018 to date she is the Vice Chancellor of KAG EAST University, Nairobi. In Dec. 2015 she was appointed the Principal Secretary for Vocational and Technical Training (TVET), Ministry of Education, Kenya. She served in that position for two and half years at a time that TVET was facing challenges and rapidly transforming as a national priority. One of her major accomplishments is the establishment of the State Department of TVET and state agencies for spearheading curriculum reforms. She was a Board member of Kenya National Qualification Authority, Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority and TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council. She was instrumental in enhancing the capacity of these agencies and sought additional resources to accelerate the curriculum reforms. She has developed deep knowledge in consulting on complex, contentious and sensitive policy matters under tight timelines.
Her leadership was particularly characterized by promotion of a strong link between training and industry. She is renowned for fostering productive partnerships with multiple stakeholders for accelerating achievement of training strategic plans. She has built a reputation as a TVET champion.
During her tenure as Principal Secretary, she also served as Chair of Social and Political Pillar of Vision 2030 Delivery Board facilitating implementation of Kenya’s development blue print. Her strong interpersonal, coordination and negotiation skills enabled acceleration of the Social Pillar Agenda.
In 2007, Dr. Mwinzi was appointed the Director of Vocational Education and Training with a vision to nationally rehabilitate and revitalize vocational training to international standards. She supervised and set up a new department with administrative structures at national, county and institutional levels. She was instrumental in devolving of vocational training centers to county governments in 2013.
She is a recipient of presidential awards of Moran of the Burning Spear (MBS) and Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS) for her role in transforming TVET.
Dr. Mwinzi studied at Kenyatta University as an undergraduate and obtained her MPhil in Philosophy and DPhil in Education from Moi University. She also has a Graduate Diploma in Leadership Development in ICT and the Knowledge Society, from Dublin City University, Ireland, 2013.
She is passionate about mentoring the youth whom she believes hold the key to transformational development. She also volunteers in several community initiatives including promotion of Christian values and environmental conservation.
