Prof. Waudo Atticulates MKU’s Strategic Plan As Nearly 10,000 Students Graduate In Colourful Convocation.

Due to the emerging challenges experienced in the country in the recent times, Mount Kenya University (MKU) has started teaching a faculty in governance and security.

This was revealed by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Stanley Waudo during the university’s 10^th graduation ceremony. He said that the university had recognised the challenge for any university worldwide was to provide high level manpower that is able to address the needs of the society hence their endeavour to contribute to the production of the same with relevant competencies and skills by offering quality education and training.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we reconise areas such as governance and security as areas that have emerging challenges. To this end, Mount Kenya University has expanded its academic programmes to include governance, ethics criminology and security management, law enforcement justice administration peace studies and conflict resolution,” said the professor.

He added that the occasion was special in that they were celebrating the academic achievements of 9,699 graduants who had fulfilled all the academic programme requirements for confirming of degrees and awards of diplomas and certificates. Among them, there were 352 Masters Degrees, 118 Post-Graduate Diplomas, 6,031 Bachelor’s Degrees, 2,521 Diplomas and 677 certificates.

Among these graduants, 312 of them fulfilled requirements for awards of certificates, diplomas and conferment of degrees in peace and security related areas. He was confident that these group would contribute immensely in the emerging challenges in related to peace and security.

The university had also introduced a Bachelor of Science in Computer Electronic Systems and Bachelor of Science in Health Education Programmes as a response in emerging needs in the labour market.

The university chambers in Rwanda was also in the process of attaining full university status.

“As part of the University growth, the university chambers in Kigali, Rwanda is on an active path of becoming a university with Prof Edwin Odhuno becoming its first vice chancellor. As you are all aware, Prof Odhuno served as a Dean School of Business & Economics for more than three years and I, on behalf of Mount Kenya University congratulate him and wish him all the best in his new appointment,” said Waudo.

He added that it is now safe to say that Mount Kenya University had firmly established itself among the East African most prestigious universities having positioned itself among the best universities regionally. This, he said, was a result of provision of adequate academic resources and support, quality training, sustaining of sufficient and quality assurance oversight systems, establishment of administrative units that rooted for the pooling and sharing of academic resources, applying the best practices in the day to day operations of the university and complying with the national and international training requirements.

He revealed that the university had already received an external grant of sh. 140 billion in the 2015-16 Academic Year for research and innovation in addition to their vice chancellor’s innovation grant that was currently supporting 35 researchers carrying out various research projects. They have already published a number of research papers and national referee journals during the year.

In nurturing youth talents, MKU has continued promoting talents particularly in sports and drama.

“Recently, MKU Athletics team participated in the 8^th African Universities games in Johannesburg South Africa, winning one gold and five medals.”

Several political bigwigs were among the graduates who successfully completed their degree or post graduate degree courses.

Murang’a Women Rep. Sabina Hon. Sabina Wanjiru Chege, Sirisia MP Hon Major Retired John Waluke Koyi and Uasin Gishu County Senator Hon Isaac Meli were all among the graduants’ list in the fete that was held at their pavilion ground along Garissa Highway in Thika. Other notable graduants included Former Minister Musa Sirma and the Kenya Meat Commission Chairman Josiah Taraiya ole Kores who is eying the 2017 Kajiado County Gubernatorial seat.