Meet Michael Ndurumo, First Deaf Professor in East Africa and UN Person of the Year
When Professor Michael Ndurumo lost his hearing at the age of eight, few could have imagined that decades later, he would be celebrated as one of Kenya’s most influential educators and a global advocate for inclusion.
Today, he holds the distinction of being East Africa’s first deaf professor — and has now been named the 2025 United Nations in Kenya Person of the Year.
The recognition, announced as the world marks United Nations Day, comes at a historic moment since the founding of the UN on October 24, 1945.
Professor Ndurumo’s life story is one of resilience, intellect, and purpose. Deaf since childhood, he learned to communicate with his father through handwritten notes.
Educational Background
After completing his primary education at Muruguru Primary School in 1969, he proceeded to Nyeri Baptist High School in 1970 and later joined St. Peter’s Mumias Boys Secondary School in 1971.
In pursuit of higher education abroad, he earned his High School Diploma from Harrison-Chilhowee Baptist Academy in Seymour, Tennessee, USA, in 1973.
He later joined the prestigious Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he undertook a joint Master’s and Doctoral programme between 1977 and 1980.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Special Education in 1977, followed by a Master of Science in Educational Administration with a specialization in Psychology and Special Education in 1979.
In 1980, he earned his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Administration with a specialization in Psychology and Special Education from the same institution.
Michael Ndurumo Career Background
Professor Michael Ndurumo has built an outstanding career spanning over four decades, both in Kenya and abroad.
He began his teaching journey in the United States, where he worked as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Department of Educational Services at Peabody College, Nashville, from 1977 to 1978.
He later served as a Graduate Research Fellow in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University between 1978 and 1979, and as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Educational Leadership from 1979 to 1980.
Following his doctoral studies, he was appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Gardner-Webb University, Boiling Springs, North Carolina, where he taught from 1980 to 1982.
Upon returning to Kenya, Professor Ndurumo joined Moi University in Eldoret, where he served as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Educational Psychology from 2003 to 2009.
In 2009, he transitioned to the University of Nairobi’s Department of Psychology, initially as a Senior Lecturer, a position he held until 2013.
Since May 2013, he has served as an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Nairobi, where he continues to teach, research, and mentor students in the fields of psychology, special education, and inclusive learning.
Achievements
He went on to develop the Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) — a linguistic system that became Kenya’s official national sign language and is now widely used in South Sudan and across East Africa.
His pioneering work earned him the title “Father of Sign Language in Kenya.”
Beyond language, his advocacy shaped national policy. Professor Ndurumo drafted the law requiring all television stations in Kenya to provide sign language interpretation during news broadcasts — a breakthrough that opened access to information for millions of deaf Kenyans.
His influence extended to the Persons with Disabilities Act (2003), later amended in 2025, and the inclusion of Kenyan Sign Language in the 2010 Constitution.
Through his efforts, Kenya became a leader in disability inclusion and education reform across Africa.
As the founder of the Africa Institute of Deaf Studies and Research, Professor Ndurumo has trained over 500 teachers, mentored generations of students, and helped build institutions that continue to champion accessibility, awareness, and equality.