Dr Michael Ndonye is a distinguished academic, institutional leader, and public intellectual whose work bridges scholarship, strategic governance, and community transformation. He currently serves as the Dean of the School of Music and Media at Kabarak University, where he also holds the position of Senior Lecturer in Communication and Media Studies. From 2017 to 2025, he served as the Founding Head of the Department of Mass Communication, mentoring a generation of scholars in media, politics, and public discourse. He leads as Programme Leader for both the Bachelor of Mass Communication and the Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication. He is a Member of the Kabarak University Senate and the Dean’s and Research Committee.
Dr Ndonye holds a PhD in Communication and Media from Laikipia University, a Master’s in Journalism and Mass Communication, and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, Philosophy, and Economics from Egerton University. His interdisciplinary training informs a distinctive approach to media analysis, grounded in the political economy of communication.
He serves as a Postgraduate Supervisor at Daystar University, Egerton University, Laikipia University, and Kabarak University, and as a Thesis Examiner at Stellenbosch University, South Africa and Egerton University. He is also an External Examiner for the School of Information Science and Technology at Kisii University.
In leadership and governance, Dr Ndonye chairs both the School of Music and Media Board and its Management Board, and plays a pivotal role in institutional development as a Member of the Graduation Planning Committee. He is a certified Auditor for ISO 9001:2025 Quality Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management Implementation, ensuring operational excellence and risk-aware practices. At Gospel Outreach Church (GOC), Egerton, he serves as Coordinator for Education, Training & Capacity Building, overseeing library services, member trainings, conferences, and empowerment initiatives. He is also the Secretary to the Church Council for GOC Egerton.
Beyond academia, Dr Ndonye is the Managing Editor at Editon Consortium Publishing Ltd, the largest scholarly publisher in Kenya, and Director at Editon Consortium Africa Ltd. He is a Board Member of the Africa Institute of Musicology (AMI), Kabarak University Chapter, and a Consultant to the Media Council of Kenya’s Media Observer.
As a weekly columnist with The Standard Media Group, Dr Ndonye is known for incisive commentary on presidential politics, strategy, and communication in Kenya. His thought leadership has been featured on the BBC, KTN News, and Spice FM, offering theory-driven insights into governance and political messaging. He also hosts the TalkChat podcast (produced by Dexmumo Media Group), where he engages audiences on politics, culture, and civic agency.
In 2017, Dr Ndonye was named a Governance Institute Laureate by the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), Dakar, Senegal. His scholarship and public engagement continue to shape national conversations on leadership, media ethics, and democratic accountability.
Dr Ndonye’s career reflects a rare fusion of academic rigour, institutional stewardship, and generational mentorship, anchored in a vision for ethical leadership and transformative impact.
SCHOLAR ACCOUNTS LINKS