For many at KCA University, those five words need no introduction.
Whether spoken during a Senate discussion, a management meeting or a conversation with student leaders, they often signalled that Professor Joshua Gisemba Bagaka’s was about to turn an ordinary moment into an opportunity for learning. It was one of several expressions that colleagues and students came to associate with his leadership,alongside another question that became almost instinctive whenever important decisions were being made.
For ten years, Professor Bagaka’s approached leadership much the same way he approached research, with curiosity, discipline and a belief that the best decisions are informed by evidence. Those who worked alongside him quickly learnt that meetings were rarely about opinions alone. They were conversations about possibilities, always followed by one familiar question:
As a distinguished scholar of quantitative research methods, statistics and research design, Professor Bagaka’s believed that data should do more than fill reports, it should inform decisions, challenge assumptions and ultimately improve lives. It was a philosophy that quietly shaped the way KCA University approached planning, academic excellence and student success.
Yet, behind the statistician was an educator whose greatest investment was never numbers.
It was people.
Over the past decade, Professor Bagaka’s served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs with a leadership style defined by humility, integrity and an unwavering commitment to students. He believed that universities exist not only to produce graduates, but to shape thoughtful leaders, nurture potential and create opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.
His calm demeanour, thoughtful counsel and approachable nature earned him the respect of colleagues across the University. During the celebration marking his ten years of service, Deputy Vice-Chancellor,Strategy,Finance and Operations, Professor Damiannah M. Kieti Manono, described him as a humble leader whose quiet strength and professionalism inspired confidence and collaboration.
That humility was perhaps best reflected in the way he chose to lead.
He mentored rather than instructed. He listened before he spoke. He challenged ideas without diminishing people. Whether engaging with members of the University Management Board, Senate, faculty or student leaders, Professor Bagaka’s believed that every conversation offered an opportunity to learn, teach and grow. His now familiar phrase—
“This is a teachable moment”
, captured that philosophy perfectly.
His commitment to education also reached well beyond the University’s gates.
In 2018, he founded Read Baby Read, a literacy initiative founded on a simple but transformative idea: that reading for just fifteen minutes each day could change a child’s future. The programme has encouraged young learners to develop strong literacy skills while fostering a lifelong love for reading, reflecting Professor Bagaka’s conviction that educational transformation begins long before a student walks into a university lecture hall.
His commitment to changing lives was equally evident in the students he supported at KCA University.
Through the Teke La Mwisho Scholarship under the KCA University Foundation, he championed an initiative that provided a second chance to students whose academic journeys were threatened by financial hardship. For learners facing the loss of sponsors, guardians or other unforeseen circumstances, the scholarship became more than financial assistance,it became the opportunity to complete their education with dignity and hope.
Throughout his tenure, Professor Bagaka’s also remained a steadfast mentor to student leaders, believing that leadership is cultivated through responsibility, accountability and service. To many members of the Student Association of KCA University (SAKU), he was more than the Deputy Vice-Chancellor; he was a trusted advisor who encouraged them to lead with courage, integrity and purpose.
Reflecting on Professor Bagaka’s contribution during the celebration, Vice-Chancellor Professor Isaiah I.C. Wakindiki described him as one of the architects of KCA University’s transformation. He noted that during his decade of service, Professor Bagaka’s did not simply occupy an office; he helped build the student experience of the University. From strengthening academic systems to championing evidence-informed leadership and mentoring student leaders, his contribution has become woven into the University’s continuing journey.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Outreach, Professor Vincent Onywera, reflected on the privilege of walking alongside Professor Bagaka’s throughout his own journey at KCA University. He thanked him for the friendship, guidance and collegial support he extended from the moment he joined the University, describing him as a dependable colleague whose generosity and wisdom enriched those around him.
As stories were shared and memories revisited, one theme emerged again and again.
Professor Bagaka’s influence cannot be measured solely by years of service or the positions he has held.
It is reflected in student leaders who discovered confidence under his mentorship.
In colleagues who learnt that evidence strengthens decisions.
In children who developed a love for reading.
In students who completed their education because someone believed their circumstances should not define their future.
Perhaps that is why one phrase continued to resonate throughout the evening.
It was more than one of Professor Bagaka’s favourite expressions.
It was the philosophy that defined his leadership.
For ten years, he reminded the KCA University community that every challenge carries a lesson, every setback presents an opportunity to grow, and every decision should be guided by purpose.
As he begins a new chapter, the lessons he shared, the leaders he mentored and the values he championed continue to enrich KCA University.
Some contributions are measured in years of service.
Others are measured in the people they inspire.
Prof. Joshua Gisemba Bagaka’s has given KCA University both.
