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From One Classroom to a Movement: The Riara Story Through the Eyes of Its Founders, Daniel and Eddah Gachukia

The story of the Riara Group of Schools is, at its heart, a story of two extraordinary individuals—Mr. Daniel Gachukia and Prof. Eddah Gachukia—whose shared vision and quiet determination have transformed the education landscape in Kenya and beyond.

Daniel was born in 1932, with Eddah following closely in 1936. Their paths crossed at Makerere University in the 1950s, where they both pursued diplomas in education. After graduating in 1956, they married and welcomed their first child in 1957, beginning a lifelong partnership in both family and purpose.

Daniel’s career began in the classroom, teaching at Kagumo High School and Thika High School before pivoting to diplomacy. Between 1962 and 1963, he studied diplomacy in France, later becoming Kenya’s Charge d’Affaires in Paris and Chief of Protocol under President Jomo Kenyatta. In 1974, he retired from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Eddah’s journey was equally illustrious. After teaching for three years, she advanced her studies in language education at Leeds University, and later earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nairobi in 1971. Her Master’s was upgraded to a PhD in 1973, and by 1981, she was officially Dr. Eddah Gachukia—soon to become Professor Gachukia, a towering figure in African academia and gender equality advocacy.

That same year, 1974, the couple was approached about buying a small kindergarten on Balmoral Road, Nairobi—just a modest school with fewer than 20 pupils, mostly children of expatriates. The Gachukias said yes. They moved into the adjoining residential house, opened the doors to Kenyan children from all walks of life, and began writing a new chapter in education.

Soon after, the road’s name changed to Riara—a Kikuyu word meaning “a place where people gather.” The timing was poetic. They weren’t just building a school—they were building community, identity, and legacy.

The kindergarten flourished. In 1989, Daniel transitioned fully into running the school. Over time, the Riara Group of Schools expanded, methodically and sustainably, into kindergartens, primary schools, a girls’ high school, and an international school. The growth was intentional—each new institution arriving roughly a decade after the last.

But the Gachukias’ dream stretched even further. In 2012, they launched Riara University with a bold, unconventional vision: to create a private university led not by corporations or religious institutions—but by educators. A place for nurturing ethical leaders, innovators, and thinkers.

The university operated under a Letter of Interim Authority for 12 years. In 2024, the Gachukias initiated the application for a full charter—true to form, with Prof. Eddah personally hand-delivering documents to the Commission for University Education, undeterred by age or distance.

Together, the Gachukias poured their lives into this venture. Daniel—a respected statesman, diplomat, and education entrepreneur—served as Chair of Thika High School, Kenyatta University Council, and was a founding Chair of the Kenya Private Schools Association. Eddah, a trailblazer for women in education, served as a Member of Parliament, advisor to FAWE, international delegate, and policy shaper across Africa.

Today, Riara University is a symbol of innovation and resilience. It boasts a new campus underway in Konza Technopolis, a robust alumni network, top-tier graduate employability, and a track record of pioneering moments—including Kenya’s first virtual graduation.

From a modest kindergarten on a renamed road to a thriving academic movement, the Riara story is a Kenyan story. An African story. One of vision, patience, and purpose.

And yes, in case you’re wondering—Daniel and Eddah have held a joint account at ABSA (formerly Barclays Bank) all their lives. Just one more quiet symbol of their shared journey, built on trust, commitment, and enduring love.

If you’re dreaming of building something that lasts, remember this: it took 13 years of waiting for a university charter, 50 years of unwavering dedication, and two hearts determined never to be rushed or shaken.

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