University management and academic staff have a critical role to diligently play in fulfilling university's mandate. Effective and efficient governance and management of both private and public universities have a direct bearing on the overall quality of the institutions. With management operating under laid down governance structures, it is crucial that specific leadership styles are adopted to make easier their roles. This paper examines the relationship between leadership styles and Lecturers' job satisfaction in higher learning institutions in Kenya. A target population of 2,773 administrators and lecturers in chartered public and private universities in Rift Valley Region of Kenya was considered. A sample of 605 participants was then obtained. The study employed convergent parallel mixed methods design with census, random and systematic sampling techniques to select the respondents. Purposive sampling was also used to select information-rich cases. Questionnaires, interview and document analysis were used for data collection. Both qualitative and quantitative data was analysed. Pearson correlation coefficient, independent-samples t-test, One-way ANOVA and regression coefficients were employed with the use of the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. It was found out that benevolent authoritarian leadership style was dominantly used. However, the study recommended practice of participative leadership style.