Meet the Smiths who founded Daystar University on a verandah

Faye Smith oversaw her husband’s home tutoring of students expand to an international media training institute.Photo: The Standard

You may have not heard of Donald Smith, but you have definitely heard of Daystar, Kenya’s first private university. Well, it was founded by Smith and his wife, Faye, with the idea hitting them as they lounged on their verandah in their home in Bulawayo in the land of ‘Uncle Bob.’ Daystar, whose name was fleshed from 2 Peter 1:19, now has three campuses offering 58 degree programmes with over 5,000 bragging as alumni since the Smiths moved to Kenya over 40 years ago.

Dr Donald Smith: He was teaching students in his home in Bulawayo as he pursued a second MA (in journalism) and PhD (in foundations of education communication) at the University of Oregon, where he earned his Bsc and Msc. But as the clamour for independence heated up in Zimbabwe, the Smiths moved to Kenya. While the family relocated to America in 1979, and left Daystar in the hands of Vice Chancellor Stephen Talitwala, the Smiths have since returned to Daystar... after 30 years!