The United States International University - Africa (USIU-Africa) Board of Trustees has announced the appointment of Dennis Awori as the new Chancellor.
The university, in a public notice released on Wednesday, May 14, said Awori had been appointed as challenger for a period of five years, effective April 10, 2025.
The Board of Trustees chairperson Eileen Wilson-Oyelaran described Awori as a distinguished leader, seasoned diplomat and accomplished business executive, with extensive experience across multiple sectors, including mobility, healthcare, renewable energy, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, banking and technical education.
“His dynamic career spans four decades, prominently across East Africa and the broader African continent, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to innovation, strategic leadership and sustainable growth,” Oyelaran said.
Awori earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Manchester.
He later pursued Management Development Courses at Ashridge University in the United Kingdom and Emory Business College in the United States of America.
He chaired the Governing Council of the Kenya Technical Trainers College (KTTC), which led to the establishment of the Kenya School of Technical, Industrial, Vocational, and Entrepreneurship Training (TIVET).
He later founded Toyota Kenya Foundation, the Toyota Kenya Academy and the David Wambuli Technical Training College.
These contributions surfaced his commitment to empowering Africa’s youth through quality education and skills development.
Currently, he is the Chairman and Country Delegate of CFAO Mobility Kenya Limited and CFAO Kenya Limited, which has extensive operations across all 54 African countries.
He is also the Executive Director of CFAO SAS (Paris), a subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho Corporation of Japan.
He served as Kenyan Ambassador to Japan from 2004 to 2009.
During his reign, he established the Kenyan Embassy in Korea, building strong relationships between Kenya and both Korea and Japan.
Awori was once the president of the Rotary Club of Nairobi East, president of the Nairobi Club, and Chairman of both the Kenya and Uganda Rugby Unions in consecutive terms.
Through his active engagement in these roles, his deep-seated belief in community impact and corporate social responsibility was evident.
Oyelaran expressed gratitude and honour to the outgoing Chancellor, Manu Chandaria, terming his leadership, support and commitment to the university as worth emulating.
