Egerton University’s Chancellor ‘Guru’ Donates His 5-Year Salary to Needy Students

The Egerton University chancellor, Narendra Raval, commonly known as Guru has promised to work for five-year tenure at the institution for free.

Guru, who was appointed to be the University’s Chancellor from 11th January 2019 through a Gazette notice issued on 8th March 2019, has a vast business empire across five sectors which include aviation.

Guru revealed that his entire salary, allowances or any financial benefit that should be accorded to him will go to supporting needy students at the Egerton University.

Guru was appointed by President Kenyatta for five year tenure to replace Prof. Shem Wandiga whose tenure ended in March 2019.

At 55 years of age, Guru is a recognized business mogul who owns Devki Group which is the largest manufacturer of steel products in East and Central Africa estimated to be worth 650 million dollars.

Guru is a renowned philanthropist who supports a number of orphanages and has authored his biography ‘Guru Bhai: An autobiography of Narendra Raval’.

Guru, who also owns National Cement Company limited and Maisha Mabati Mills Limited, said that if any of his companies were to do any business which includes supplying any goods to Egerton, it would be for free.

Guru, who featured in Forbes ranking of Africa’s richest people in 2015 with a net worth of 41.2 billion shillings, later committed to donate half of his net-worth to humanitarian causes in education, health and social programs to help the poor.

Raval got the name Guru from his first job as an assistant priest when he first landed in Kenya in 1978. Raval held religious classes for children on Sundays and would prepare snacks to tempt the children to attend. The number of children Raval taught grew from 12 to 250 within a short while and he earned the name Guru with the community.

Raval has been awarded Order of the Burning Spear which is considered the highest civilian award in Kenya and also the Special Philanthropy award by the British Government.

“I am deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa, I believe that wealth should be considered as a trust of the whole society and as trustees, individuals should use it for the benefit of the society,” Raval told an Indian local paper during an interview which largely explains his deep beliefs and philanthropy acts.

Egerton University is undoubtedly headed for greatness under the leader of Chancellor Narendra Raval ‘Guru’.