DeKUT Chaplaincy

Chaplain Profile

Rev. Fr. Dr. Vincent Wambugu Mwai, Ph.D.
Head of Chaplaincy, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT)

Rev. Fr. Dr. Vincent Wambugu Mwai, currently the Head of Chaplaincy at the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, is a Catholic priest with over 30 years of pastoral ministry, academic engagement, and national and International leadership experience. He is also a Senior Lecturer at the University’s Institute of General Studies (IGS).

Fr. Wambugu holds both a Doctorate and a Licentiate in Theology from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, Italy, with specializations in Spirituality, Ethics, Thomistic Philosophy, and Theology. He holds a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from the Oblate School (University) of Theology, San Antonio, Texas, (USA) and a Master of Arts in Spirituality from the same University. He holds a Bachelor of Philosophy from the Urbaniana University, Rome, Italy, and a Bachelor of Theology from the same University. Additionally, he is trained in Nonprofit Organizational Leadership and Management from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA.

Fr. Dr. Wambugu was ordained in the Archdiocese of Nyeri and has served extensively in pastoral, educational, and administrative roles. Within the Archdiocese, he held various leadership positions, including Archdiocesan Secretary, Pastoral Coordinator, and Director of Communications. He served as a member of both the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors. He was the Provincial Secretary for the Ecclesiastical Province of Nyeri.

Prior to his appointment as Head of Chaplaincy, Rev. Fr. Dr. Wambugu served for 14 years as the General Secretary of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and, ipso facto, as the CEO of the Kenya Catholic Secretariat. He offered strategic leadership and coordination for the Catholic Church in Kenya. He represented the Catholic Church in governmental and non-governmental public policy forums, engaging in interfaith partnerships for peacebuilding, humanitarian support, governance, and social transformation. His interfaith collaborations included partnerships with the NCCK, Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK), Supreme Council of Kenya Muslim (SUPKEM), and Hindu Council of Kenya (HCK), among others.

While studying in San Antonio, Texas, USA, Rev. Dr. Vincent Wambugu served as Associate Pastor at St. Pius X Parish and Our Lady of Lourdes Ministries Shrine, and as Associate Chaplain at the San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC). In consideration of his services, Rev. Wambugu was admitted to the 4th degree of the Knights of Columbus and admitted to the highest possible level of Worthy Sir Knight and a member of Council 4298, San Antonio, Texas, USA. He is also a Fourth-Degree Knight of Columbus and a Sir Knight of Council 4298, in Texas.

Fr. Dr. Wambugu continues to contribute to priestly formation as a Board Member of Christ the King Major Seminary and serves on the College of Consultors for the Archbishop of Nyeri. His mission bridges the pulpit, academia, and the public square.

About Us

Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT) is an ultra-modern academic institution located on Nyeri Mweiga Road, about 10 Kilometers from Nyeri town.

Statement of Purpose

The Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT) is founded on the principle that intellectual development cannot and should not be isolated from the whole person's development. It is, therefore, dedicated to nurturing its students into well-balanced and productive citizens through the transmission of knowledge, refinement of intellect, development of moral character, and promotion of service.

The University envisions excellence in moral guidance and undertakes as part of its mission to produce morally upright leaders to contribute to attaining national goals.

The University upholds integrity as a central core value in the holistic formation of its students.

Foundations and Operation

The Chaplaincy Department of the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology came into existence on June 14th, 2021, when the University Council approved its new policy. Before then, it was a unit in the Directorate of Students' Welfare under the guidance of the Director. The Chaplaincy supports the University's vision of excellence in moral guidance and the production of morally upright leaders while upholding integrity as a core value of DeKUT.

The Chaplaincy, therefore, undertakes the mission of coordinating spiritual, pastoral, and moral guidance for the DeKUT community as its duty.

The Chaplaincy department has its coordination office in the upper corridor on the rear side of the Freedom Hall, overlooking the famous University Challenge Course. The Department is headed and coordinated by the Head of Chaplaincy (University Chaplain).

Chaplaincy within the Mission of the University

The DeKUT envisions, at the end of a student's holistic formation, professionals who are well- balanced and productive citizens, embodying morally upright leaders through diligent moral guidance. In this regard, the broad mission of the Chaplaincy Department includes nurturing students into well-balanced and productive citizens. Therefore, the Chaplaincy coordinates the following services for the DeKUT community: Spiritual welfare, Pastoral Care, and moral guidance. It discharges its duties under the statutory mandate that specifies this mission within the University.