Prof Jotham Micheni

Prof. Jotham Micheni, MMed (Surg); FCS (ECSA), EBS

Prof. Jotham Micheni is an Associate Professor of Surgery at the Kenya Methodist University (KeMU), School of Medicine and Health Sciences based in Meru County. He was born in 1956 and brought up in Chuka, Tharaka-Nithi County, in the Eastern slopes of Mt. Kenya. He attended local schools for primary and secondary education and later Thika High School before admission into the University of Nairobi in 1977. He holds MB;ChB and MMed (Surgery) degrees from the UoN, and is a Fellow of the College of  Surgeons(ECSA).

He is among the pioneer faculty staff at the Kenya Methodist University; School of Medicine and has contributed immensely to the establishment of the MB;ChB programme at the University which opened its doors to the first cohort of students in 2011. There have been five graduating cohorts so far.

Prof. Micheni is a General and Laparoscopic Surgeon trained at the University of Nairobi for his undergraduate and post-graduate studies, as well as the Tel Aviv University in Israel for his sub-specialization in Endoscopic Surgery.

He has been a Career Public Servant who worked in Public Service from 1983 up to 2011 when he retired at Kenyatta National Hospital having served in various positions in Surgery and in Administration.  He served as the CEO of KNH from 2006 to 2011. During this period he participated and contributed to the Health Sector Policy Formulation and Implementation. At the same time he provided stewardship to  re-engineer KNH and improve services and facilities to the extent of reclaiming its rightful position in the national referral system and the region at large. This helped the hospital reclaim its national status through provision of high quality specialized  healthcare in collaboration with the University of Nairobi and other relevant national institutions of higher learning in the health sector. The hospital was able to carry out its mandate and participated appropriately in policy formulation and facilitating relevant medical training.

He is currently teaching Surgery at KeMU and practicing at the Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital (MeTRH), the designated teaching hospital for the University. Prof. Micheni actively participates in mentorship of colleagues in the surgical/medical fraternity alongside teaching and surgical practice in the greater Meru region.

He is actively involved in the leadership of many schools, hospitals and other learning institutions in the Mt. Kenya East region. He is the current Chairperson of the MeTRH and has successfully served as Chairperson of the PCEA Chogoria Hospital and Chuka County Referral Hospital, all of which have undergone tremendous transformation into regional centres of excellence.

He continues to participate in many community and international programmes of health care, education and social development. Of particular note is the Operation Smile International programme on craniofacial and other congenital anomalies; various SSK surgical outreach programmes for neglected tropical surgical diseases.

He is an ardent believer in integrity, good governance and service above self. He is a Rotarian at heart and deeds, and is an active member of the Rotary Club of Nithi. He has received many awards and honours. He is an Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (EBS), awarded in 2012, in recognition of the great service and contribution towards the transformation in the health sector in Kenya.

At 67 years of age today, he has a wealth of experience in his profession and administration; in good corporate governance, leadership and management that he cherishes to share for the improvement of the healthcare in Kenya and the region at large. He trained on corporate governance, leadership and management under the auspices of Commonwealth Governance in the National University of Singapore during his tenure at the KNH in the days gone by. He is also a trained and certified Trustee.

He is a dedicated Christian and a committed family man, and is happily married with three (3) adult children. He wishes you all fruitful deliberations in this important meeting.