Founding Fathers of Daystar University

Rev. Dr. Donald Kendall Smith and Mrs. Faye Gladys Smith

Rev. Dr. Donald Kendall Smith and Mrs. Faye Gladys Smith birthed the vision that gave rise to Daystar University. After arriving in South Africa in 1952, they taught at an evangelical teacher training college in Natal (now Kwazulu-Natal). In 1958, together with Dr. Salzwedel Ernest Motsoko Pheko, the Smiths launched ‘Our Africa’ magazine in Johannesburg. They moved to Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1963, where once again, together with Dr. Pheko, they established Daystar Publications. Later, in 1968, the Smiths registered Daystar Communications in Oregon, USA, and launched it in Southern Rhodesia in 1969. In 1973, they incorporated Daystar Communications in Nairobi, Kenya, as a non-profit company (limited by guarantee). Daystar Communications changed to Daystar University College in 1984, and later to Daystar University in 1994 after granting of the Charter.

Rev. Dr. Donald Smith and Mrs. Faye Gladys Smith have remained supportive of the growth of Daystar University through the years.

Mrs. Faye Smith went to be with the Lord in October 2023.

Dr. Salzwedel Ernest Motsoko Pheko and Mrs. Nts'iuoa Ntsadi Ellen Pheko

Dr. Salzwedel Ernest Motsoko Pheko, together with Rev. Dr. Donald Smith and Mrs. Faye Gladys Smith, established ‘Our Africa’ magazine in Johannesburg, South Africa (1958), and later Daystar Publications in Zimbabwe (1964). Dr. Pheko proposed the names ‘Our Africa’ for the magazine and ‘Daystar’ for Daystar Publications. ‘Our Africa’ had a great impact on the African continent, causing unease to the then apartheid regime in South Africa. The ensuing pressure led to the closure of the magazine’s operations in September 1963. On its part, Daystar Publications published Christian literature and other literacy materials in the local languages (SiNdebele and Shona), and in English. In 1966, Dr. Pheko and his family moved from Zimbabwe to Lusaka, Zambia, where he established the operations of Daystar Publications. He lived in Zambia until 1982, when he got various engagements in Britain and the US, later returning to South Africa in 1994. Dr. Pheko visited Daystar University in Kenya on a few occasions. In 1998, he attended the University’s Silver Jubilee celebrations, and in 2012, he was the chief guest at the graduation ceremony. In 2019, he visited Dr. Donald and Faye Gladys Smith.

In his work, Dr. Pheko was highly supported by his wife, Mrs. Nts’iuoa Ntsadi Ellen Pheko.

Dr. Pheko and his wife Ellen went to be with the Lord in 2024: Dr. Pheko in April and Ellen in November.

Dr. James John Mageria and Mrs. Beatrice Kabui Mageria

Through the invitation of Rev. Dr. Donald Smith, Dr. James John Mageria was elected inaugural Chair of the Afro-Asian Board which was formed in August 1976. The Afro-Asian Board, whose membership comprised Christians drawn from diverse fields and professions, was formed to govern the operations of Daystar Communications in Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Mageria gave oversight to the Africanisation of Daystar Communications and its transformation to Daystar University College in 1984. He was Chair of the Governing Council of Daystar University College from 1984 to 1987, and later chaired the Daystar Company Limited from 1994 to 2012. For his immense contributions to the development of Daystar University and society, Dr. Mageria was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) degree by Daystar University in 2008.

His wife, Mrs. Beatrice Kabui Mageria, was a strong pillar to him as he played different roles in Daystar. Dr. Mageria went to be with the Lord in September 2021.

Prof. Stephen Erisa Joseph Lubale Talitwala and Dr. Mutheu Talitwala

Prof. Stephen Erisa Joseph Lubale Talitwala joined Daystar in 1976 as a member of the Afro-Asian Board, which had been formed to govern the operations of Daystar Communications in Nairobi, Kenya. In 1979, he was appointed the first African Executive Director of the then Daystar Communications, taking over from Rev. Dr. Donald Smith. In 1984, Prof. Talitwala became the founding Principal of Daystar University College (the successor of Daystar Communications). While in this role, Prof. Talitwala worked with a dedicated team to launch the first undergraduate degree programme, which was accredited by Messiah College, in 1984. This was a fundamental milestone in the Afro-Asian Board’s vision to create an African University. Prof. Talitwala played a significant role in the qualification of Daystar University College for accreditation to become a fully-fledged private Christian University. In 1994, he was appointed the first Vice Chancellor of the new Daystar University, a position he held until 2004. The establishment of the Main Campus in Athi River is attributed to Prof. Talitwala, from purchase of the land in 1989 to the groundbreaking for construction on May 4, 1991. For his immense contributions to the development of Daystar University, Prof. Stephen Talitwala was in 2019 honoured with a Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) of Daystar University.

His wife, Dr. Mutheu Talitwala, was an integral part of Prof. Talitwala’s immense contributions to Daystar University.

Prof. Talitwala went to be with the Lord in April 2023.