Deputy Vice Chancellor – AFP

Prof. Daniel Kipkirong Tarus is an accomplished academic, strategic leader, and financial expert with over two decades of experience in higher education, university administration, and development finance. He currently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Administration, Finance, and Planning at Rongo University, a role he assumed in February 2023. He previously held the position of Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor – Finance at Moi University between 2016 and 2022, where he led transformative projects that significantly enhanced institutional efficiency, financial sustainability, and service delivery.

Prof. Tarus holds a PhD in Finance (Moi University/Oklahoma State University), an MBA in Finance, and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Allahabad. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K) and a Certified Public Secretary (CPS-K) and has undertaken executive training in Strategic Leadership Development, Financial Econometrics, and Corporate Governance.

A highly respected scholar and researcher, Prof. Tarus is a Professor of Finance at Moi University and has taught at undergraduate, master’s, and PhD levels. His areas of expertise include financial accounting, corporate governance, investment analysis, strategic leadership, and entrepreneurship. He has supervised and examined numerous postgraduate theses and published widely in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences. He is also a peer reviewer for the Commission for University Education (CUE) and the Namibian Commission for Higher Education.

Prof. Tarus has mobilized billions of shillings in funding for national projects, including the Digital Literacy Programme, the Kenya Population and Housing Census, and the establishment of digital assembly plants. His strategic reforms have led to operational efficiencies, revenue growth, and enhanced academic delivery in public universities. Prof. Tarus is deeply involved in governance and policy-making and serves on several boards, including:

• Council Member, Kenya School of Government;
• Audit Committee Chairman, Ministry of Interior and National Administration;
• Former Member, Audit Committees at The National Treasury, Ministry of Industrialization;
• Former Chairman, O’llessos Technical Training Institute;
• Council Member, Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) – Research & Development Committee; and
• Alternate Director, Rivatex East Africa Ltd.

His service has earned him national recognition. In 2024, he was awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) of Kenya by H.E., the President, for his outstanding contributions to education and public service. He has also received accolades from ICPAK, academic institutions, and international bodies for his leadership and scholarly achievements.

Beyond academia, Prof. Tarus is a community leader, having chaired Boards of Management at several educational institutions and mentored students through initiatives such as ENACTUS, where he led teams to represent Kenya in global competitions. Prof. Tarus embodies academic excellence, visionary leadership, and a commitment to transformative development in Kenya’s higher education sector.