MKU @ 20yrs INSIDE: A PULL-OUT FOCUSING ON MOUNT UNIVERSITY MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY | 1996 - 2016 Government of Kenya absorbs 47 pioneer MKU pharmacy degree graduates MKU goes into history as the first private university to successfully train pharmacists in Kenya since independence I had prac- omewhere in the State of Georgia, tised as a USA, one Dr Jimmy Mulu Wambua is preparing to undertake his regis- pharmacist tration exam to enable him practice technician Dr. Geraldine Wanja Alumnus from pharmacyS in the US. He flew to the US in before com- pioneer B. Pharm class, School of July to pursue his dream of becoming a top Pharmacy, MKU pharmacist. ing to MKU,” Dr Wambua is an alumnus of MKU’s pio- says he. county hospital where she heads a depart- neering Bachelor of Pharmacy class of 2009 ment of eight, all men. that claimed a special place in the universi- “But I really Hers too, has been an illustrious journey. ty’s and country’s annals of medical train- gained a lot Having lost both parents early in life, she ing history. of valuable depended on her grandparents to see her These first graduates of the five-year through university. She scored a B at KCSE. Bachelor of Pharmacy programme gradu- knowledge However, she was not admitted for a phar- th ated in December 2013 during MKU’s 5 Jimmy Wambua as a student explaining to the then President H.E. Mwai Kibaki operations which macy degree under the then Joint Admis- sions Board (JAB). Graduation Ceremony. of a mixer at the pharmacy stand during the University Charter Award Day was much Through a survey, the university tracked She qualified for the Module II pro- its pharmacy graduands. Of the 84 who affordable fees that MKU was charging as “I had practised as a pharmacy tech- deeper than gramme at the , but graduated, 47 immediately embarked on compared to pursuing a similar programme nician before coming to MKU,” says I knew be- the fees was out of the reach of her elderly the process of becoming registered to prac- in the USA. he. “But I really gained a lot of valuable grandparents. She joined MKU, whose fees tice as pharmacists, completed the process “In MKU, I was paying roughly knowledge, which was much deeper than cause of the they could afford. The rest is history for the and were absorbed by the Government of Ksh312,000 per year, while the same pro- I knew because of the theoretical work and theoretical Class of 2009. gramme in the US costs about Ksh2.5 mil- knowledge I had learned in class. So now, Kenya. The rest are at various stages of the work and In 2010, another batch of students process.Upon graduation, the MKU phar- lion per year on average” he says. returning to the same pharmacy I was work- joined the MKU Bachelor of Pharmacy macy graduates sat the mandatory Stage 1 The other key consideration was the ing in before, I am at a whole new level in knowledge I programme. Pharmacists Pre-Internship Examinations. duration of the programme. The MKU knowledge and experience, which I believe had learned Dr James Githinji was in this lot. By then Bachelor of Pharmacy programme, being will make me one of the best pharmacists Those who passed were posted by the Min- in class a diploma holder from the Kenya Medical istry of Health for a one-year paid intern- a five-year course, met the minimum dura- in the company. Training College (KMTC), he found the ship in community pharmacy practice (3 tion accepted in the United States. “Armed with a Masters’ degree and expe- university a convenient avenue through months), industrial pharmacy internship Had he wanted, Dr Wambua would be rience from the US as a pharmacist, I will which he could pursue his degree. MKU (3 months) and Hospital pharmacy prac- working in Makueni County where the come back to practice in Kenya with new opened an avenue that previously did not tice internship (6 months). The Graduates Ministry of Health had posted him. knowledge and experience. That may be exist for continuous professional develop- were then examined a second time by the When he arrived in Kenya, he received useful to society as Kenya and the Pharmacy ment for diploma holders in not only phar- Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) after a culture shock, having lived in the US his practice continues to develop.” macy training, but in many of the health internship in the Stage 2 PPB Pharmacists whole life. “From the food, to the language, His quest to fulfill a longstanding dream sciences, such as clinical medicine and den- Pre-registration Examinations. Those who to the showers, to the people, even greet- mirrors the journey of hundreds of others tal technology. passed were registered as pharmacists, and ings, were all so different,” he recalls. who found an academic haven in MKU. Dr James Githinji is one of the benefi- on 10 August, 2015, they were posted by He was privileged to serve as class repre- Dr Geraldine Wanja, a classmate, is the ciaries of this increased access for career the Ministry of Health to serve in various sentative from second to fourth year. hospital pharmacist at the Matuu sub- and professional development. county hospitals across Kenya. Dr Wambua, a Kenyan born and raised in the US for 20 years, bucked a common Mountains varsity climbed to mount pharmacy courses trend when he decided to travel to Kenya in 2009 to undertake his Bachelor of Phar- Mount Kenya University’s pharmacy training He reveals that for the university to be granted fered diploma in the same field of study. macy degree course. As is the norm, thou- journey is the stuff that powerful folktales are authority to mount the Bachelor of Pharmacy de- Also consider that to mount a health science sands of Kenyans usually travel to the US, crafted from. The hurdles that the university had gree was nothing short of the extraordinary – if programme requires massive investments in the United Kingdom, India, South Africa to overcome in its formative years are legendary not a miracle. equipment and faculty. The institution must also and among other destinations for and legion. Consider this: Thika Institute of Technology, the develop a suitable curriculum for accreditation by their university education. Dr John Kisengi, Accreditation Co-ordinator, university’s forerunner, hit the higher education both the Commission for University Education Now here was a Kenyan already living in College of Health Sciences, had been at the histo- scene when pharmacy training was the preserve and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board. the land of opportunity but who sought ed- ry-making university before it evolved from Thika of two public institutions. Only the University of Then keep in mind the fact that MKU, like its ucation back home. Institute of Technology. He witnessed these inter- Nairobi offered the Bachelor of Pharmacy, while Dr Jimmy Wambua notes that the mo- esting developments. only Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) of- tivation to return to Kenya to pursue his Continued on page...2 pharmacy degree was largely based on the 20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scaling the heights of education 2 | 1996 - 2016 | MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY

Pharmacy Degree Graduates Enhancing pharmacy training to boost Mountains varsity climbed to mount pharmacy courses regional drug manufacturing capacity Continued from page...1 precursor, is a privately-funded institution. It is not funded MKU enriches by Government, a faith organisation, a professional body or a non-governmental organisation. curriculum to bridge You then begin to appreciate the mountains the institution region’s pharmaceutical had to climb to become the first private university in Kenya to offer the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. It made history when manufacturing gap it did. Some well-established universities tried to offer the pro- gramme and failed. They have never re-ignited interest in it. n a significant twist to its epic tale Dr Kisengi recalls that even for TIT to be allowed to offer a of success, Mount Kenya University diploma in pharmacy was an uphill task. is investing millions of shillings to The door to pharmacy began to crack open for private insti- transform its pharmacy training. tutions in Kenya when in 2002, the government succumbed to the need to train more paramedical personnel. TIT began MKU,I East Africa’s largest health sciences to train pharmacy dispensers at certificate level. private university, has enriched its phar- Then the then Kenya Institute of Education (KIE), now macy degree curriculum and recruited Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), released international faculty to help produce phar- an approved curriculum allowing institutions to offer the cer- macists who are highly skilled and special- tificate course. ised in industrial pharmacy. However, industry regulator Pharmacy and Poisons Board Pharmacy students demonstrate how to inject a rabbit This is a timely shot in the arm for the (PBB) ran a newspaper advert warning that only UoN was region’s economies that are poised for in- authorised to offer the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree pro- dustrial take-off. pharmaceutical and cosmetics manufactur- cosmetics market will hit $231 million by gramme. The notice also said only KMTC could offer the di- East African nations currently import ing industry. The university is adopting a 2018. ploma programme. pharmaceuticals, including simple cosmet- training curriculum heavily inspired by the He adds that there has been a shift in ics that can be produced in the region with Indian model curriculum for pharmacists pharmaceutical care towards providing the right skills and expertise. while also retaining the clinical training as- personalised medicine and targeted drug For example, Kenya imports pharma- pects for those graduates who wish to pur- delivery systems. “Nowadays, it is ideal to ceuticals worth $500 million (about KSh sue a career in the hospital and community give doses fit for the individual patient as 50.5 billion) per year from India. This is pharmacy sectors. opposed to the practice of giving all pa- according to the Health Principal Secretary “To ensure there is adequate technology tients the same dose yet they are unique in Nicholas Muraguri. Anti-retroviral drugs transfer, the university’s management has body and physiology,” Dr Chandrasekhar imported from India cost the country Sh22 recruited several professors from top In- explained. billion every year. dian universities to join the faculty in the The international faculty expected to The bulk of such imports can be man- MKU School of Pharmacy. The university spearhead the implementation of the new ufactured in the region if locally trained has also recruited faculty that has extensive curriculum include: Institutions of higher learning were displeased with the pharmacists can bridge the technological hands-on pharmaceutical manufacturing Dr Epaphrodite Twahirwa, PhD: Dr order because it locked them out. They petitioned Ms Charity gap that exists between the two countries. experience in local and international phar- Twahirwa is a Rwanda/Belgium citizen with Ngilu, the then Minister for Health, to rescind the decision. And now, in a paradigm shift, the re- maceutical manufacturing plants to ensure extensive industry experience in East Africa She obliged. viewed MKU Bachelor of Pharmacy cur- that the training is practical,” the dean said. and Europe. PPB retracted the advert and a task force to look into the riculum planned to be implemented from Kenya’s Vision 2030 aims to position the Prof Ramalingham Rama, PhD, has ex- matter of pharmacy training in Kenya was formed. The task January 2017 will give trainees requisite East African nation as the regional provider tensive teaching experience from top phar- force went around the country to establish which institutions skills to make them competent in the in- of choice of highly specialised health care macy schools in India. He will be one of the had the infrastructure to train pharmacy technologists. It found that five institutions had the requisite infrastruc- dustrial manufacture of medicines and cos- and a “health tourism” giant in Sub-Saharan key pillars in the technology transfer from ture to offer the course. TIT was in the list published on 22 No- metics. Africa. This vision in part requires a strong India to Kenya in ensuring that the MKU vember, 2003, becoming the first private institution in Kenya Dr S. Chandrasekhar, the Dean School of pharmaceutical manufacturing base which Pharmacy graduates are at par in Industrial permitted to offer the Diploma in Pharmacy programme. Pharmacy, said the university awaits regu- can only be achieved through strengthening Pharmacy training with their Indian coun- In 2004, TIT admitted the first class of pharmacy diploma latory approvals but is optimistic that this of the local pharmaceutical manufacturing terparts. students. A whopping 96 registered for the course. will be granted. He pointed out that the capacity and human resource through tech- MKU’s planned training of Bachelor of The institute then embarked in investing in improving the university is adding to, and not removing nology transfer initiatives. Pharmacy students in industrial pharma- academic resources (teaching staff and facilities) that led to content from its approved and accredited Dr Chandrasekhar reveals that MKU ceutics units such as pharmaceutical en- success of the programmes. curriculum. pharmacy students will also receive prac- gineering will make them ready to transit Thika Institute of Technology showed its intent to be a lead- ing light in pharmacy training by having Bachelors and even The dean, who boasts nearly 38 years’ tical training in formulation of cosmetic directly to the industry on graduation. Masters holders in pharmacy teaching in the Diploma pro- pharmaceutical industry experience stretch- preparations (cosmetology). They can be There will be no need for expensive and gramme, while other institutions were hiring Higher Diploma ing back to 1977 in India, says the univer- employed in the cosmetic manufacturing time-consuming on-job training of phar- holders to teach in the diploma programme. sity’s draft curriculum heavily borrows industry, a multibillion dollar sector in East macy graduates immediately they are em- “In September 2005, The management realised that there from the Indian pharmacy training struc- Africa. ployed in pharmaceutical manufacturing were no affordable core pharmacy reference books and spon- ture which has made the Asian country the In addition, the Kenyan cosmetic indus- plants. sored one of its senior Pharmacy lecturers’ at the time, Dr global leader in pharmaceutical manufac- try is currently estimated to be worth over In addition, the added units such as phar- Philip Mwagiru, to publish the first pharmacy textbook ever turing. Sh6 billion ($ 59.8 million) and is further maceutical medicine will ensure that the written by a Kenyan, for local and regional pharmacy training. Said Dr Chandrasekhar: “The revised estimated to grow to over 7.4billion ($ 73.7 graduates are competent to be employed as The book, titled Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, remains the only locally authored pharmaceutical chemistry MKU Bachelor of Pharmacy curriculum million) by 2018. This is according to Euro regulatory affairs pharmacists in regulatory reference book that is in use by Diploma and Degree Phar- aims to produce pharmacists well equipped Monitor International. It is estimated that agencies or drug registration departments macy students in Kenya. to seamlessly transit from university to the the combined Kenya, Uganda and of pharmaceutical companies. 20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scalis altitudines educationis MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY | 1996 - 2016 | 3

Academics

Thanks to our MIS, we’ve shed costly excesses Facts

• The University reduced and vastly improved on academics — Registrar part-time lecturers.

• The varsity has continu- ously increased full-time Varsity drastically staff as compared to part- reduces part-time time teaching staff. This has given students more staff time to interact and con- sult their lecturers as the varsity enhances service echnology has helped Mount delivery. Kenya University streamline aca- demics and shed excess part-time • Class attendance has staff capacity that unnecessarily increased from 90 per gobbledT up resources. Using its man- cent to 98 per cent after agement information system (MIS), the the streamlining of the university cut teaching units in January, en- academics at the Univer- abling it to significantly slash the number sity using its Management of part-time lecturers on its payroll. Information System, UNI- Dr Ronald Maathai, Registrar, Academic PAC. Affairs, revealed that the university did not need the thousands of part-time lecturers across its 16 campuses. “We realised that some units were cre- ated unnecessarily,” he said in an interview. “Some lecturers were teaching 12 students He said after the streamlining of teach- or less, and thus had a low workload. We ing, the Directorate of Teaching vets any also realised that some full-time staff mem- new part-time lecturer for integrity, qual- bers were taking less teaching loads. They ification and competence. Those who fit would then give the full classes to part-tim- the bill are then eligible for interview. After ers. Technology has helped us tremen- that, their names are stored in the universi- dously. We can view from a computer the ty’s database and should they misbehave or lack commitment, the university blacklists units offered and the number of students A public lecture registered in any campus.” them. This is possible because the university “For example, we can say confidently management centralised the Directorate of that we have a manageable number,” said Teaching to gain a bird’s eye-view of aca- Ramani’s Experience the Registrar. “MKU will never be the same again. We use an approved curriculum, hire demics. The Registrar said MKU had fallen into Professor Ramalingam Ramani is a qualified and competent part-time lecturers the traditional part-time lecturing trap that BPharm., M.Pharm & PhD holder in and offer exams whose quality is assured snares many universities and costs them Pharmaceutical Chemistry with over through external examiners.” millions of shillings in unnecessary sala- 15 years of teaching experience. He Dr Maathai said this was a desirable state ries. completed his PhD from Osmania The impact of affairs. “Academics is what brings stu- Dr Maathai said the associate faculty had University, India. has been a dents to MKU. So, we track a student right Professor Ramalingam has guided from admission to class attendance up to ballooned to become unmanageable. At huge im- one point, the university owed the lecturers both BPharm and M.Pharm students graduation. On class attendance, we mon- Sh500 million, yet that was an unnecessary with 23 research publications both in provement in itor both students and their lecturers to expenditure in the first place. After stream- Indian and international journals. class attend- ensure the syllabus is covered. Our exams He is keen on Research & Teaching. lining the units, the university managed to are centralised. All students, irrespective of ance because campus, sit the same exam.” clear the debt. “The university was not in Professor Ramalingam Ramani, Ph.D the univer- control of the situation… Most of the part- The Registrar has appealed to the CUE time lecturers were pursuing their own sity’s MIS to create a database of all part-timers in very few students outside, and these are change will only affect new students. agenda,” the Registrar noted. “They were Kenya to ease their monitoring. “We have usually busy revising.” The Registrar pointed out that imple- helps moni- not complying with university regulations. to keep in mind that we are training for the The feedback from students has been that menting these changes was not easy. He tor teaching. The problem was lack of coordination and nation.” “we are zealous in chasing them to come to recalled how people asked him what magic managing of part-timers.” Mount Kenya University is a major con- class,” according to the Registrar. he was going to employ to cut units. The impact has been a huge improve- tributor to employment creation in Kenya. Dr Maathai said the MIS helped the “Part-time teaching is a cash cow for ment in class attendance because the uni- The university employs full-time academic university realise that it was offering too many people,” Dr Maathai noted. “So it versity’s MIS helps monitor teaching. “Daily staff, associate faculty and research staff, many units in its curriculum. For example, was natural for some people to campaign class attendance has increased from 90 per administrative staff and support staff. for business courses, MKU was offering 56 against and resist our new approach to cent to 98 per cent,” said Dr Maathai. The academic, associate and research units against the Commission for Univer- managing the part-time community. As “Coverage of the syllabus is 100 per cent. staff comprises professors, associate pro- sity Education’s (CUE’s) recommended many universities were established, part- The campuses are often quiet because stu- fessors, senior lecturers, lecturers, assistant minimum of 40 units. Accordingly, the uni- time lecturing became a career commonly dents are attending lectures. You will see lecturers, tutorial fellows and graduate as- versity has reduced these units to 42. The referred to as ‘moonlighting’.” sistants.

20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scaling the heights of education 4 | 1996 - 2016 | MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY

History MKU: Grain of wheat produces rich harvest

he academic seed that Dr Simon all colleges seemed to be focusing on so- N. Gicharu planted in the form of cial sciences, business and art programmes a commercial computer outreach which were relatively easier to mount and centre in 1996 has borne fruit. Two operate. Tdecades later and the transition to Thika In- The capital investment needed to mount stitute of Technology in 2002 and finally to health programmes and the strict regu- a fully Chartered University in 2011, MKU’s lations by respective health professional Thika In- growth and development has had a pro- bodies was (and still is) a great barrier to stitute of found impact on society. entry. In addition, since most of the private Since 1996 about 70,000 graduates of institutions are profit driven, the lower re- Technology the precursor, Thika Institute of Technol- turns on investments associated with health The old computer lab was the first ogy and Mount Kenya University, have been courses discouraged private institutions private in- awarded various certificates, diplomas and from mounting such courses. The manage- the Bachelor of Pharmacy programme was provided opportunities to the manage- conferred degrees in the various market ment at Thika Institute of Technology was stitution to offered only at the University of Nairobi. ment of TIT to gain valuable experience driven programmes disciplines. therefore delving into unchartered territory Thika Institute of Technology was the on management of the teaching of degree be accred- At inception, the Computer Outreach as health science training was a preserve of first private institution to be accredited by programmes. ited by the Centre had just one programme in com- government institutions. the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to offer In May 2008 Mount Kenya University puter packages. The number of programmes Among the first health programmes to Pharmacy a Diploma in Pharmacy in Kenya in 2003. was established and mandated to offer has grown over the 20-year period. The in- be mounted at Thika Institute of Technol- Five years later, Mount Kenya University three CHE approved programmes namely, and Poi- crease in the number is in response to the ogy was Pharmacy Training at Certificate was also to become the first Private Uni- Bachelor of Business Information Technol- sons Board market demand to increase access to uni- level in 2000. Before then, the training of versity(and only the second University in ogy, Bachelor of Science in Medical Labo- to offer a versity education. Pharmacy professionals was for a long time Kenya) to be approved by Commission ratory Science and Bachelor of Pharmacy. The management of Thika Institute of the preserve of only a few government in- for Higher Education (the precursor of Mount Kenya University adheres to the Diploma in Technology from its inception had made a stitutions. The Diploma in Pharmacy pro- Commission for University Education) quality processes of programme approval. Pharmacy strategic focus to concentrate on health sci- gramme was only available at the Kenya to mount the Bachelor of Pharmacy pro- Instruments in place to oversee this process in Kenya in ence programmes. At the time (early 2000), Medical Training Institute (KMTC) while gramme in 2008. include Departmental /School Curriculum In 2006, the Commission for Higher Ed- development and review committees, the 2003. ucation (CHE) validated TIT programmes Senate, Commission for University Educa- and approved collaboration between TIT tion and accredited by the respective pro- and Jomo of Agricul- fessional/regulatory bodies which provide ture and Technology, JKUAT to offer some a critical external quality assurance mech- diploma and degree programmes mainly anism through their periodic accreditation in business courses. The collaboration inspections and review.

Number of Number of Number of Programmes in Programmes Programmes in 2016 in 1996 2000 Certificate - 1 Certificate – 3 Certificate – 45 Diploma – 4 Diploma – 50 Degree – 67 Post-graduate diplomas- 6 Masters – 55 Ph.D – 8 Thika School of Management Studies Thika Institute of Technology Mount Kenya University MKU leads in number of approved courses among private varsities

Mount Kenya University (MKU) has Institute of Technology in 1996. In That was in 2005. the highest percentage of approved 2000, the institute developed into a In 2006, the Commission for professional courses among private commercial college of management Higher Education, the predecessor universities in Kenya. and computer training. It was regis- of the Commission for University The university’s curricula are de- tered by the Ministry of Education, Education, approved the institute’s signed to match the demands of the Science and Technology in 2001. request for collaboration with Mount Kenya University modern job market, and this has The college initiated paramed- JKUAT to offer diploma and degree 13% enabled it to get the approval of var- ical, information technology and programmes. ious professional bodies, including business and entrepreneurship ed- After fulfilling all the require- the Council for Legal Education, ucation in 2002. ments of establishing a private Pharmacy and Poisons Board and It became the first private train- university, Mount Kenya University Kenya Medical Laboratory Techni- ing centre in Kenya to be allowed by received its charter in 2011. cians & Technologists Board. the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to It has campuses in Kenya and The university started as Thika train pharmaceutical technologists. other East African countries. 20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scalis altitudines educationis MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY | 1996 - 2016 | 5

Entrepreneurship

For long, entry to university education in Kenya had been mostly dependent on How Dr Gicharu’s enterprising spirit a student’s socio–economic background. High cost deterred many – even those with the relevant marks – from enrolling in these institutions. opened university doors to thousands Yet access to university education is not only one of the fundamental rights of an individual, but also an important exit route We have an obligation and a responsibility to be investing in our students and our schools. We must from poverty. make sure that people who have the grades, the desire and the will, but not the money, can still get The 50,000 students enrolled at Mount Kenya University – making it the biggest the best education possible. - Barack Obama,US President such private institution in Eastern Africa – found the route to realising their dreams. hen the door to his teaching They are the reason the university exists and job slammed shut 20 years is thriving. Their huge numbers are prov- ago, Dr Simon Gicharu em- ing Dr Gicharu right: Kenya and the region barked on an odyssey into need this university. theW unknown. Coincidentally, this fateful With a bias for science and technology dismissal swung open a new window of op- programmes, Mount Kenya University has portunity and forever changed his destiny treaded where few private universities dare and the lives of thousands of others. not venture. These programmes require After intense thinking about his plight, huge investments in infrastructure and fac- he saw a path he could follow: entrepre- ulty, something that Dr Gicharu has not neurship. shied from. He charged down the new path, trying His eyes dance with laughter when he one business after another. But he knew it recalls the experiences he endured as he was one big risk he was assuming. He had doggedly built the fledgling institution. His just traded the comfort of a salaried job in visit to Abarakant in Punjab State, India, to the public service with the uncertainties of buy equipment for pharmacy training read- the fluid world of entrepreneurship. ily springs to his mind. Not until he established a college did his He was there for one week tying loose wandering entrepreneurial spirit find a true ends of logistics. For all that time, he sub- home. sisted on bread and soda. “I could not eat A visionary with an indomitable will, Dr the spicy Indian food,” he reminisces with Gicharu founded Mount Kenya University a chuckle. “I was used to eating meat back Mount Kenya University Chairman and founder Dr. Simon Gicharu (centre) Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Public Service, and gave deserving students the opportu- home. To me, going one week without tast- Youth and Gender Affairs, Sicily Kariuki (right) and Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National nity to access university education – with ing nyama choma was a huge sacrifice.” Government, Joseph Nkaissery (left) follow proceedings during MKU’s 10th graduation ceremony held at the University’s other doors shut to them. He is delighted that the School of Phar- Pavilion in Thika. More than 10,000 graduates were conferred various degrees and awarded diplomas and certificates. In so doing, he revolutionised higher macy he has built since then has attracted a education. Today, he is among the most sizeable international faculty. “The Indians famous entrepreneurs and educationists in brated entrepreneur. He challenged the status quo and de- who supplied the University with equip- Kenya. “We did not establish MKU to compete bunked the industry assumption that ment have now come to teach and transfer Dr Gicharu knew that limited capacity in with other institutions,” he insists. “MKU others had been educated to accept that technology in Kenya,” he notes. publicly-funded universities locked out tens came to fill a gap in higher education and only religious institutions, professional And, by setting up campuses strategically of thousands of Form Four leavers who had especially in Kenya. We are filling that gap association, rich individuals and non-gov- across the country even in shunned regions attained joining qualifications. They had well and we are happy.” ernmental organisations could establish a like Lodwar, Mount Kenya University is three options: to join the expensive Module By successfully nurturing Mount Kenya university in Kenya. making higher education affordable and II programme, enrol in private universities University since its formative years as Thika Most private universities in Kenya are accessible. and pay equally high fees, or swallow their Institute of Technology to the academic sponsored by religious groups. The major- Individuals thirsty for higher education pride and settle for a diploma programme. titan it is today, Dr Gicharu has demon- ity of these institutions are limited in ca- now need not leave their hometowns to He saw a void and moved to create an strated the spirit of entrepreneurship. His pacity. Their annual admission ranges from travel to where they must pay for accom- alternative path for them, instantly trans- resilience is stuff that truly distinguishes about 500 in the smallest institutions to modation. The university is right at their forming himself from a teacher to a cele- successful entrepreneurs from the rest. 2,000 in the largest. doorstep.

The villas are Wi-Fi enabled and fitted using a library Information Management Sys- Statistical Analysis with electrical accessories for use both at tem. The library has Computers fully networked Library grows night and day. Its setting has an ambiance with free internet for library patrons and Ama- Item Thika Institute MKU 2016 that is conducive for learning and study. zon Kindles (EBook readers) for access to online The Library Section of the University has under- of Technology The library user education is conducted resources. gone tremendous growth. The Thika Institute of 1. Capacity 100 4,444 for proper utilization of the ICT facilities; The library users are able to renew borrowed Technology Library had a sitting capacity of 100 the Wi-Fi enabled library environment en- information resources on their own whenever 2. Print books 4,000 87,600 users only. The University current Library sitting hances use of laptops, smart phones and they are by logging in to Online Public Access capacity is 4,444 users 3. E-books Non Over 80,000 other gargets within the university. The catalogue. Mount Kenya University Library (main cam- 4. Operation Manual Automated Wi-Fi zones are distributed on all the floors pus ), is fully automated and Wi-Fi enabled and system of the library, the study villas and the library Library improvement has various sections such as Reprographic section, yard. This has demystified the library theory Mount Kenya library started with a sitting capacity 5. Computers 9 438 Technical section, Circulation section, Reference of a building into a virtual space. of 100 users and currently we have a total capacity section, Children’s section, Periodical section, 6. Kindles 0 50 Mount Kenya University subscribes to of 4,440. There has been a continuous improve- Cultural centre, Digital and Multimedia Section, 7. Staff 2 66 various electronic resources such as jour- ment due to the support given by the University study Carrels, Reading area , Stack area, library nals, eBooks through the Kenya Library and management in providing the highest quality of staff offices, library Staff common room and Li- Information Services Consortium (KLISC) library facilities, resources and qualified staff. brary discussion Villas. The library complies with an academic library as stipulated by the Commis- to supplement the print resources. the standards and guidelines for establishment of sion for University Education (CUE). The library services are automated executed 20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scaling the heights of education 6 | 1996 - 2016 | MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY

Entrepreneurship Practical training and partnerships: Alumni excel as A great roadmap to wealth creation entrepreneurs During the Mount Kenya University 8th Graduation Cer- emony in July, 2015, the then Education Cabinet Secre- frican countries can catch up tary Jacob Kaimenyi hailed the university as a “hotspot for with the Asian Tigers if tertiary training is more practical-ori- training successful entrepreneurs.” ented and integrates mentorship. In a survey of Kenya universities, he said, MKU ranked AThis is according to Mount Kenya Univer- among the best in producing “job creators, not job seek- sity founder Dr Simon Gicharu, who says ers.” there is too much theory and “copy-cat” True. Propelled by a scholastic approach that empha- approach in the education system in Africa. sises independence and freedom of thought, MKU gradu- The four Asian Tigers – Hong Kong, Sin- ates complete their studies with a mind-set of applying the gapore, South Korea and Taiwan – trans- skills they have acquired to build something of their own. formed from backwater countries to highly The university’s Graduate Enterprise Academy, which developed societies by reforming their ed- offers entrepreneurial training and seed capital to a select ucation model. More focus was placed on number of alumni, has also gone a long way in moulding technology and an export-oriented manu- these successes. facturing. “Institutionalisation of practical oriented The institution’s founder Dr Simon Gicharu, was him- teaching and learning in schools and uni- self in 2015 inducted into the World Entrepreneurs of the versities should be our guide towards eco- Year Hall of Fame. Dr Felistas Wangui, a coach, addresses apprentices during the opening of the second nomic prosperity and job creation,” says Dr Vice-Chancellor Prof Stanley Waudo says: “In Dr Gich- cohort of the Graduate Enterprise Academy Boot camp Gicharu. aru, ambitious entrepreneurs need not look beyond the He explains that his experiences led him jobs in the next five years. Dr Gicharu says engineers, teachers, entrepreneurs, doctors, university’s walls for a role model.” to establish the Mount Kenya University technical training is a viable solution in among others.” The list of successful alumni entrepreneurs includes a Graduate Enterprise Academy, a post-grad- stemming the unemployment tide. 27-year-old who educated himself and his five siblings uate incubation and mentorship lab meant “As training institutions, we should Dr Gicharu poses: “Why can’t we have through a Wines & Spirits and milk distribution busi- to transform would-be job-seekers into job ensure up to 85 per cent of teaching and policies that allow students to get evalu- nesses, a bubbly 26-year-old who sells fish in a landlocked creators. learning is practical oriented. Theoretical ated on their contributions to the industry? country, and a 24-year-old trading in Congolese vitenge The lab is backed by a Sh40 million war training leads to production of ‘copy-cat’ Such a policy would add value to both the throughout East Africa. chest that is expected to create hundreds of teaching and to partnering organisations.” Their bank accounts and workforce bulging, they say it is Students delighted with varsity services – Survey more fulfilling to create a job than to look for one. And that is the nature of a typical MKU graduate

Students are satisfied with infrastructure and facilities, teaching, learning and service delivery at Mount Kenya University. In a Employers prefer Mount market survey, they, however, suggest that the university has room to strengthen its Kenya University graduates research and innovation pillar. - Survey MKU conducted the market survey in February 2015, seeking feedback to enable Mount Kenya University graduates have been ranked the it improve its products and services. The top 10 most sought by the employers. This is according target group was students – the university’s to the latest employability survey by Corporate Staffing primary customers. Limited that found employers preferred to hire fresh grad- The Marketing Department carried out uates from MKU and nine other universities. the survey with technical guidance and sup- port from the Department of Public Health, The survey noted that employers receive too many job School of Health Sciences. applications from poorly qualified candidates. Students filled questionnaires that sought To date, MKU has sent to the labour market over 70,000 information on how they came to know graduates. Over 20 per cent have created jobs while the about MKU, how they rated the university’s GEA apprentices, their coaches and speakers from Stima Sacco pose for a group photo rest seek employment in various industries. services and their suggestions on how key during the second Boot camp at SACDEP, Thika The university through Graduands and Alumni Rela- institutional pillars could be strengthened. They gave infrastructure and facilities The surveys, they proposed, should focus graphic, geographical, socio-economic and tions Office (GRAO) has developed several employabil- a high rating of 77 per cent, followed by on MKU products and services, and their cultural profiles of all customers in each ity soft skills trainings. The aim is to support students to teaching and learning (76 per cent) and ser- prices, among other features. Further, pro- campus and school should be regularly un- become successful in the market. The office has strong vice delivery (67 per cent). motional strategies should be regularly dertaken. This would provide insights into partnerships with industry and networked the alumni for The respondents suggested that the uni- undertaken, preferably every three years, to how to strengthen the university’s Pillars of internship employments. versity should conduct random surveys on contribute to mid-term review of the MKU Excellence, including how to achieve gen- all its customers (students, staff, regulator Strategic Plan. der parity in admissions and staffing. partners, and collaborating partners). The students also suggested that demo- 20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scalis altitudines educationis MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY | 1996 - 2016 | 7

Linkages

Varsity in hot pursuit of talented No effort spared student-graduate entrepreneurs in entrenching quality at MKU Graduate Enterprise Academy identified as Quality has been at the heart of Mount Kenya University’s operations right from the a vehicle to support start, stretching back to the days of its precur- graduate entrepreneurs sor. Thika Institute of Technology, the uni- versity’s forerunner, benchmarked for quality ount Kenya University is cognizant with Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture of the fact that the number of job and technology (JKUAT) and Uganda’s Gulu opportunities globally is not in- University. creasing compared to the number MKU offered programmes in collabora- Mof graduates joining the labour market. tion with the two universities. By then, qual- Prof Peter Wanderi, Director, Quality Assur- ity assurance at the institution was only by ance, Linkages and Partnerships, says the univer- benchmarking with the two universities. sity actively pursues collaborations with other “This helped raise MKU’s stature to a institutions and individuals. When other parties level where in 2008, it could run own pro- seek to partner with it, MKU welcomes them grammes,” says Prof Peter Wanderi, Director, with open hands. Quality Assurance, Linkages and Partner- “We set our objectives clearly and go out of Graduate Enterprise Academy’s patron Dr. Simon Gicharu addressing apprentices of the academy our way to identify strategic partners,” Prof Wan- ships. deri revealed during an interview. “We are also Key linkages in health training: He continues: “This paved the way for available to respond to queries by prospective • Machakos Level 5 Hospital MKU to be granted a Letter of Interim Au- partners who want to engage with us and em- • Thika Level 5 Hospital thority (LIA) in 2008. The university then brace their ideas. More often than not, we go • Mathari Mental Hospital put in place structures on quality assurance beyond their expectations.” • Chulaimbo Hospital and became ISO 9001:2008 certified in 2012. The university has a dedicated directorate of • Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital All its teaching and management activities linkages. “We are even on the ground – our staff, were certified.” students and management – to look for more Objectives Every year, the Kenya Bureau of Stand- and more linkages. We do timely reports and • To raise the visibility of MKU locally and inter- ards (KEBS) undertakes two external audits share them with management. They in turn give nationally on the university’s processes and activities. us feedback.” • To enhance university network for quality Likewise, the university’s 300 ISO internal addition Prof Wanderi appreciates that he and his team auditors carry out quality audits within the work with a Board of Directors, University Coun- • To market MKU regionally and internationally • To contribute towards improvement of Uni- institution. Of this number, 40 had their cil and Senate that are highly supportive of link- training enhanced and became Lead Audi- ages. “They appraise any linkages we suggest and versity rating. tors. They are distributed throughout the they, too, provide new ones,” says Prof Wanderi. Prof. Peter Wanderi, Ph.D university’s campuses. All quality assurance “The environment that MKU provide is attractive Director Quality Assurance and Linkages MUBS exchanges staff with the university. operations are coordinated from the Thika and helps us retain linkages and partners. Understanding with the University of Bradford It also helps in student-to-student leadership main campus. He is happy to note that student activities to jointly host an international peace conference benchmarking, curriculum development and Students, too, participate in the quality as- have attracted corporate organizations such as in Kenya next year. implementation. surance exercise. Every semester before they banks and other institutions that offer services to The university has training arrangements with MKU is also working with the University of receive their exam cards, they are required them. Banks such as Equity, KCB, National Bank the Administration Police Training College (to West of Scotland in the United Kingdom and Le- to appraise their lecturers and fill the evalu- of Kenya, Cooperative Bank, Family Bank and train police), Kiambu County (to train members uphana University in Germany on programmes ation form online. The appraisal results are Commercial Bank of Africa engage with MKU of county assembly). MKU also partnered with in entrepreneurial development among students. then sent to management. students on financial issues. the latter to equip the Thika Level 5 Hospital The programme is titled Students Training for The Quality Assurance Directorate also “Telecommunications giant Safaricom has where the university’s health sciences students Entrepreneurial Promotion (STEP). “This is a shown interest in setting up students care centre train on the practical aspects of human health. carries out surveys on customer satisfaction. programme I introduced in Kenya while teach- within the main campus at its own cost,” adds The university equipped the hospital’s anatomy It provides a questionnaire that the students ing at Kenyatta University,” Prof Wanderi reveals. Prof Wanderi. “Our students shall also be offered laboratory with Sh300-million equipment. and other stakeholders fill to indicate their We are now working with the UNESCO Regional internships to practice their skills. To nurture the next generation of entrepre- levels of satisfaction with the services they Office in Gigiri, Nairobi, to appraise the progress “Firms such as Vivo Energy have indicated that neurs, MKU struck several partnerships. It took receive at MKU. The results are passed on to of STEP in Kenya. This will enable UNESCO to they would like to engage with our students on on board University of Edinburgh’s Professor management to take corrective actions. seek additional funding for more students to be the issue of attachment. Media organizations Emeritus Peter Rosa as a consultant for its Grad- MKU’s quality assurance journey is set to trained.” engage with our journalism students. Busi- uate Enterprise Academy programme. The don move to another level as the university pre- ness-related organizations such as the Chandaria The MKU-UNESCO collaboration also aims at has been consulting for Makerere University’s pares for transition to ISO 9001:2015 on the mainstreaming co-curricular sustainability issues Foundation, through Manu Chandaria, are also Business School (MUBS) since 2003. into academia. advice of KEBS. interested in working with MKU. Dr Chandaria “MKU wants to nurture startups for its stu- MKU is one of the biggest private universities “The university is working towards attain- graced one of our gala events during the ICA- dents and alumni so that by the time they grad- in the region and offers various health science ing this standard by 2017, although we have BUMPA conference.” uate, they are job creators,” says Prof Wanderi. programmes. Naturally, it attracts a lot of atten- until March 2018 to do that,” says Prof Wan- Several small and medium firms also ap- “Family Bank and Bidco, among others, are tion from accrediting bodies that accredit pro- deri. “We were recertified early this year as we proach MKU for support and mentorship. helping us mentor the budding entrepreneurs.” MKU will soon sign a Memorandum of grammes. work towards ISO 9001:2015.”

20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scaling the heights of education 8 | 1996 - 2016 | MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY

Alumni MKUSA leadership articulates Early Christmas gift: Plaza pertinent student concerns

Student leadership at named in honour of Alumni Mount Kenya University (MKU) is moving in the right direction. The voter apathy that had hit the student population has dissipated. This is according to Mr Charles Karondo, MKU Student Association (MKUSA) President, who declares that the student body is achieving its set objectives. “At one time, students had despaired in voting,” he reports. “They felt that Charles Karondo MKUSA was not articulat- President, MKUSA ing their issues well.” According to him, sometimes it is all about dealing with small matters affecting the students. “We deal with the small matters that matter a lot to stu- dent, and it makes a big difference to them,” Mr Karondo says. “It could be about how students relate with the lec- turers. It could be about a delay in processing a student’s Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) money. It could be about how the security personnel at the gate handle them. Or it could be about the quality of food in the ‘mess’. It is about how students can learn smoothly without being dis- Majestic look of Alumni Plaza tracted by such issues.” MKUSA is also concerned about recreation for students because, as Mr Karondo notes, this is critical for all-round Mount Kenya University is set to honour its They participated in the university’s growth “Therefore MKU applauds its graduates development of the MKU undergraduate. alumni later this year by naming its tallest and are currently giving back to MKU and wherever they are. They should know that “Even though we study a lot, the recreational time is building in the Thika campus after them. society. The plaza is a symbol that unites they own part of the building throughout there, so we need games facilities,” says the MKUSA Pres- Alumni Plaza is the university’s gesture of alumni to stay connected to the university their life.” ident, who was elected to this position last February. “We appreciation of all its former students. and continue to contribute to their alma Alumni Plaza will be ready by December are aware that the Mombasa campus has a sporting arena Mr Afubwa Musumi, the Graduands & mater,” he says. “It will serve as a figurative for its official opening. at the Student Centre. We would like similar facilities put Alumni Relations Officer, acknowledges the umbilical cord.” It will serve as a one-stop administrative up in all campuses.” Mr Karondo says the student body has sent delegations pivotal role students played in the universi- “MKU has remained in touch with its centre of the university, for efficient service to South Africa and South Korea to benchmark with sport- ty’s growth and development. alumni through several services and sus- delivery to the student community, parents, ing facilities available to students in universities in the two “These former students believed in the tained communication,” he reports. guardians and other stakeholders. countries. MKU dream and that of its forerunner. Sudanese student aspires President’s Award Kenya to become a great leader

Majok Makur Malak is a South Sudanese national who joined MKU in Jan- uary2014 as a diploma student in electronic and electrical engineering. He switched to pursue a degree in Economics and Statistics in September the same year. “I had vision of join- ing campus politics while in high school in Kampala, Majok Makur Uganda,” he explains why he stood for student leadership at MKU. Mr Malak attended his primary and secondary school ed- ucation in Kampala, Uganda and moved to Kenya in 2013. He vied against four Kenyans. He projected his dream and focus to fellow students “despite where I come from, I won the election.” His slogan was “Africa, we are one”” which was ranked as the first and unity promoting slogan in the MKUSA 2016 Mount Kenya University Nairobi Campus staff and students in a group photo with H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta, the Patron of President’s elections. Award Kenya and other government officials during the Gold Award presentation ceremony at State House on 22 July, 2016. 20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scalis altitudines educationis MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY | 1996 - 2016 | 9

Sports MKU among top-four sporting universities in Kenya – survey

ount Kenya University (MKU) has emerged fourth among 55 universities and institutions of higher learn- ingM in Kenya ranked for excellence in sports. Swimming competition at the university The ranking was done by global market and social research firm, CPS International, fol- lowing a survey. The research firm released its report dur- ing the first week of August 2016, detailing the ranking of Kenya-based universities ac- cording to their sports activities. In a survey that lasted two months, the pollster placed a premium on sports facil- ities, awarding more points for excellent playgrounds. It also considered the budg- ets allocated to sports by the various in- Martin Owia Omondi, MKU student who plays for the Kenya IRB Sevens team stitutions of higher learning. Another key Mount Kenya University rugby team in action consideration was the number of sporting activities promoted by the institutions. tegic plan period 2015-2019. darts and table tennis. In addition, martial Top 10 Best Universities in Sports On learning about the university’s rank- Currently, the vast land is hosts gradua- arts disciplines such as karate and taek- ing, Prof Peter Wanderi said, “I congratulate tion pavilion, sporting activities, conference wondo are also popular among students. Ranking in Kenya MKU for this achievement, which comes at facilities, capacity and team building events According to the Dean of Students, Mr 1. Kenyatta University 7. Egerton University a time that sport has become a fast grow- and university functions. Evans Omwango, the university values 2. University of Nairobi 8. Jomo Kenyatta Univer- ing social institution in the world with Recently the university athletics team sports as a key feature in the holistic edu- 3. United States Internation- sity of Agriculture and al University Technology unlimited potential for youth personal ed- participated in a championship held in cation it provides. This has seen the institu- 4. Mount Kenya University 9. University of Eldoret ification, character formation, a career for South Africa and they performed very well. tion nurture sports talents in various fields. 5. 10. Jaramogi Oginga income generation as well as a potent av- We urge our students to spare some time Some of the outstanding performers have 6. Odinga University enue for local, regional and international from their academics and make good use gone on to represent the country interna- diplomatic relations. Keep it up MKU.” of excellent sporting and games facilities tionally. MKU has over the years invested in fa- provided by the university. Mr Omwango reveals that the university Uganda’s Opatia cilities for various sports disciplines across Popular sports disciplines at MKU, and also provides scholarships to students with its campuses. It has also built teams that for which the university has provided fa- talent in sports, such as Martin Owila, who nurtures his participate in competitions in Kenya and cilities, include swimming, rugby, soccer, is on a full rugby scholarship. It also plans outside the country. handball, badminton, volleyball, netball, to issue another 10 full scholarships in var- leadership skills The university owns 100 acres along the hockey and athletics. ious sports disciplines in the next academic Thika-Garissa road, 4 km from its main The university’s campuses also have facil- year. He came. He saw. He con- campus, set aside for expansion in the stra- ities for indoor games, such as pool table, quered. Edwin Opatia came to Kenya from his native Uganda in June 2012 in search of knowledge. He ended up being a leader too. By the time he was elected external affairs officer of the Mount Kenya University Stu- dents Association (MKUSA) Edwin Opatia with a 40,000 strong mem- bership, he had conquered his leadership skills. fears and won the hearts of fel- He learned about MKU while low students. still in his home country, and The Bachelor of Clinical decided he wanted to have in- Medicine student was inspired ternational learning experience. by the Government of Kenya’s “I saw MKU as an outstand- effort to stem the corruption ing university in East Africa, tide through the Ethics and An- growing fast. I had tried to ti-corruption Commission. apply to other universities for Awareness of the movement the degree in clinical medicine, also made him known widely but MKU was the only one of- within the MKU community. fering the course,” he narrates. Mr Opatia says coming to “I was welcomed well and have Body building and aerobics lessons at the university gym MKU’s tae kwondo team battle for top honours in a competition MKU has helped nurture his enjoyed my stay here.”

20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scaling the heights of education 10 | 1996 - 2016 | MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY

Digital Varsity

Why has the Digital Learning at the University become so popular within Mount Kenya University a short time?

• The University Digital Learning Management system is one of the best learning system and Digital Varsity goes global has powerful and added features that enhance learning, access to resources, Virtual interaction, online CATs, assignments, marking and grading MKU digital varsity is a of the CATs and self paced learning. • Because of the flexibility it offers,It is also af- collaborating partner of fordable. Students also like the way we take Sakai Platform of USA care of them by solving any challenges they may face in using the platform.” • Because Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is available, it is easy for stu- MKU Digital Varsity started as an abstract in dents to stay in contact with the university July 2010, motivated by the Mount Kenya should they need assistance. University’s desire to expand access to • Diaspora Students sit for exams in Kenyan Em- bassies abroad hence convenience and cost sav- higher education and to provide an alter- ings instead of them travelling back to Kenya. native way of obtaining quality academic • The Digital students as well sit for exams in the qualifications to those who could not at- university approved campuses and centres mak- tend the campus-based mode of learning. ing the mode of learning flexible and friendly. The university has invested in reliable ICT • The learning is flexible and courses run on tri- infrastructure, integrated students manage- mester basis and credit transfers are given on application by the academic heads ment and digital learning management sys- • Reliable students academic, technical support tems to actualise digital learning. and customer care team through the varsity call Like the proverbial long journey that centre. starts with only one step, MKU Digital • Two graduation ceremonies per year hence it Varsity started as a small distance learn- enhances academic progression. ing centre housed at the Main Campus in Joyful MKU graduands Thika, offering Bachelor of Business Man- agement and Bachelor of Psychology. With just a population of around 50 MKU Digital Varsity’s appeal: Flexible, Convenient “Anytime, Anywhere” studying students, the centre morphed into MKU’s Virtual Campus in July 2011, and later to MKU Digital Varsity is a collaborat- number includes more than 10,000 agement, among others. liament, 12 members of National Virtual Varsity in 2012. Now it is Digital ing partner of Sakai digital platform Mount Kenya university students. The digital learning format include Assembly and a member of Senate Varsity. of USA. This is the platform of choice Within a single platform, the MKU an introductory orientation week for are currently pursuing programmes Currently, over 10,000 students are en- by over 350-plus world’s top-ranked Digital Varsity supports virtually any students to meet fellow students and through the Digital Varsity. universities, including Stanford and type of instructional approach, in- prepare themselves for 12 weeks of The Digital Varsity remains com- rolled in various course programmes, with Oxford universities. cluding elements of the educational lecturer-led independent study and mitted to making a positive and en- the number set to grow to over 50,000 stu- The platform serves upwards of experience that are unique to specific discussion. Students are able to study during impact in communities. This dents. 1.25 million students in the US and programmes. “anytime, anywhere”, and contribute commitment is best expressed by the 4 million students globally. This Our exceptional team of technical to ongoing lively discussions and de- motto, “Scaling the Heights of Educa- MKU global digital presence support staff help students to bates with fellow students and their tion”. When students succeed, coun- navigate the platform. Students lecturer, each week. Active participa- tries prosper and societies benefit. connect with the Student Sup- tion is expected and encouraged. The Varsity offers a unique learning port Team by phone, email, and In the final week, students are experience that combines web based online chat. expected to sit for end of trimester supported learning, and strong stu- MKU Digital Varsity offers stu- examinations at the nearest Digital dent, technical and academic support dents the opportunity to study at Varsity examination centre. through the use of interactive and Mount Kenya University wher- MKU Digital Varsity has a proud feedback learning tools embedded ever they are in the world. They history of serving the education needs in the Digital Learning Management enjoy access to innovative learn- of the military, police service and system. ing resources, leading-edge cur- other security agencies. Currently, the The online lecturers and university riculum and the experience of varsity offers diploma, undergraduate professors provide the required aca- friendly and dedicated staff. The and postgraduate programmes in se- demic support to students. Learning students are offered personalised curity studies. combines various digital instructions support all along the way from By providing broad access to qual- with e-tutorials through the learning enrolment to graduation. ity higher education through distance system. The university has an elabo- Students choose from a grow- learning, MKU Digital Varsity has be- rate students’ mentorship programme ing programme offered at Digi- come the choice of more than 2,250 to ensure their academic life is ca- tal Varsity, including Master of men and women serving in various tered for from the time of enrolment Business Administration, Master security agencies. of Public Health, Bachelors in Amidst the fast-changing and Continued on page...19 Criminology and Security Man- challenging role of Members of Par-

20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scalis altitudines educationis MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY | 1996 - 2016 FOCUS ON RWANDA | I

Inauguration Mount Kenya University Rwanda set for inauguration in November Varsity to move into own building in Kagarama, consolidating its three campuses

ovember 2016 will see the inau- guration of Mount Kenya Uni- versity Rwanda in Kagarama, Kicukiro District. The ceremony Nwill be held at the university’s brand-new complex in Kagarama, a landmark edifice with state-of-the-art lecture facilities, labo- ratories, offices and equipment worth bil- lions of Rwandan Francs. The inauguration is a key step towards Dr. Prudence Ngarambe, the establishment of a locally chartered Chairman designate, Mount Kenya varsity with independent governance struc- University Rwanda Council tures from its parent, Mount Kenya Univer- sity (MKU) in Kenya. milestone for the university. The MKU Board of Directors has tapped In 2011, student enrolment stood at Distinguished Professor John J. Struthers only around 1,000. To date, the univer- from the University of the West of Scot- sity has over 3,000 students in three loca- land (UWS) to be the Chancellor of Mount Kigali Campus dance troupe entertains guests during a graduation ceremony tions, namely Kicukiro, Camp Kigali and Kenya University Rwanda (MKUR). He is Town campuses. Growth of academic pro- currently the Director of the Centre for Af- grammes in Rwanda included those that rican Research on Enterprise and Economic were mainly offered in public institutions. Development (CAREED) at UWS. From its humble beginnings, the insti- An accomplished researcher and scholar, tution has, in less than a decade, attracted Prof Struthers boasts numerous publica- and trained thousands of students. Some tions, among them a book titled, “Money: have graduated and are making their mark Institutions, Theory and Policy.” In ad- in society. Others are still undertaking their dition, he has attracted over $100,000 in To enhance studies in various disciplines. grants and funded projects. the inter- MKU is making deliberate efforts to Prof Struthers will be instrumental in national improve access to higher education in navigating MKUR to greater heights in ac- Rwanda. It is committed to investing in ademics, governance and international col- quality of ed- the country, especially in the areas of sci- laborations. ucation, the ence and technology; the heartbeat of any Dr Prudence Ngarambe, a Doctor of Phi- university knowledge-based economy. losophy in Political Science and Security The university has invested heavily in Studies graduate of Salve Regina Univer- will maintain IT and modern science laboratories at sity, Newport, Rhode Island, USA, has been strategic the Kicukiro centre in order to offer pro- tapped by the MKU Board of Directors as affiliations grammes such as nursing, pharmacy, medi- the Mount Kenya University Rwanda Chair- Kigali Campus graduands celebrate their success cal laboratory science and clinical medicine man of Council designate. through and surgery. Once in place, the University Council Memoranda MKU acquired land for the construction will engage stakeholders in creating op- opments in general, and specifically those (ICTs) to biotechnology materials, business of additional infrastructure in preparation portunities for resource mobilisation and in the Eastern Africa, and is now convinced and innovation, provide great potential for of Under- for the transformation of its Rwanda cam- synergies for global collaborations to im- more than before that operating a full- countries to accelerate and strengthen their standing pus into a university. The construction will plement experiential learning and teaching. fledged institution of higher learning ac- economic development. (MoUs) and be in phases, with the first phase scheduled To enhance the international quality credited in the system it is serving is more MKUR is the outcome of sustained invest- for completion by the end of this year. of education, the university will maintain relevant and quality focused and manage- ments in infrastructure and other learning strategic The infrastructure that will be ready after strategic affiliations through Memoranda of able than running a campus operating on resources. It is also a response to Rwanda’s partnerships. the first phase of construction will give the Understanding (MoUs) and strategic part- cross-border basis. unmet demand for human resources to university the capacity to train 7,000 stu- nerships. The quality offered by the univer- It is against this background that the pro- help drive the nation to its desired destina- dents over and above the current popula- sity will be guided by International Quality posed Mount Kenya University in Kigali is tion: a bright future for its people. tion. Standards. dedicated to bringing quality, relevance and Phase Two will expand the university’s affordability to the population of Rwanda Ultra-modern facility capacity by a further 3,000. Tremendous growth and beyond. The MKU Board of Directors invested The legal process for the granting of gov- Mount Kenya University (MKU) has been MKUR opens its doors to support na- nearly 4 billion Rwandan Francs in con- ernment permission to establish the univer- operating an off-shore campus in Rwanda tional development and reconstruction structing an ultra-modern facility in Kaga- sity is ongoing. The Government of Rwanda since 2010. The institution has undergone with the philosophy that rapid advances rama, Kicukiro District. The facility can has been highly supportive of the idea, just tremendous growth since. in health sciences, science and technology accommodate at least 5,000 students by the like it has supported the MKU Kigali Cam- The MKU Board of Directors has been across a wide range of resources from infor- end of this year. pus. following global higher education devel- mation and communication technologies The last six years have marked a huge 20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Empowering Generations through Education II | FOCUS ON RWANDA 1996 - 2016 | MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY

MKU Rwanda Vice-Chancellor Mount Kenya University Rwanda’s VC outlines his plan for varsity success ome people might call him auda- authorities. So, here we are talking of dou- as introducing new teaching and learning cious. Others might consider him ble accreditation. As you know, Rwan- methodologies. Research and innovation a high risk-taker, or even a dreamer. da’s Higher Education Council gave MKU shall be enhanced, and incubation facilities Well, Prof Edwin Odhuno will courses a clean bill of health.” increased.” Sgladly accept any of these descriptions be- Prof Odhuno says right from the outset The VC envisions MKU Rwanda grad- cause he appreciates the enormity of his that MKU Rwanda has woven its curricu- uates playing an influential role in this new responsibility: Mount Kenya University lum with strands from Rwanda Vision 2020 intricate web of social and economic devel- (MKU) Rwanda’s first Vice-Chancellor. – the country’s long-term development opment. This is because beside focusing on Yet he has bet big on the institution at- blueprint that charts the path to a brighter science and technology training, the uni- taining unparalleled success in years to future. versity aspires to graduate highly employ- come. Rwanda Vision 2020 lays strong empha- able individuals. “I am honoured to be the university’s first sis on the promotion of science and tech- To achieve this goal, the university has vice-chancellor,” he offers during an inter- nology as the key to unlocking the country’s set out to train its students in collaboration view. “I did not anticipate the appointment, economic potential. with industry. I am hon- but the university must have seen that I had In part, Rwanda Vision 2020 states: “At “We will strengthen our school of health oured to be something to offer. I welcome the appoint- the core of our development process will sciences and the other three schools – Pure ment, and I will take this job seriously.” be what constitutes Rwanda’s principal and Applied Sciences, Business and Man- the univer- Prof Odhuno goes ahead to give him- asset: its people. Human resources will be agement, and Education,” explains Prof sity’s first self a target: “If in five years I feel we are improved, so that Rwanda can become Odhuno. not achieving what we have set out to do Prof Edwin Odhuno, Ph.D, MKU Rwanda, VC a knowledge-based economy. In particu- “We have gone overboard in providing vice-chancel- in Rwanda, I will not want my contract re- lar, we will actively encourage science and adequate learning resources,” asserts the lor,” I did not newed.” technology education and ICT skills, which VC. “We have invested heavily in technol- anticipate the Clearly, he has staked his academic repu- Rwanda’s Higher Educa- will also help in addressing the fact that our ogy and students can access knowledge tation by promising to set MKU Rwanda on country is landlocked.” through our library, kindles and the e-re- appointment, the path to glory, in just five years. tion Council gave MKU Prof Odhuno explains that the univer- pository.” but the uni- The Vice-Chancellor of the university courses a clean bill of sity “has reviewed its Vision and Mission Prof Odhuno promises to make the that has sprouted from the Mount Kenya to ensure it reflects the current demands of university highly competitive by focusing versity must University Kigali Campus is confident that health. the market place and also its strategic rea- on quality. This, he says, involves limiting the ingredients for a rosy future exist. His lignment in the Republic of Rwanda, which intake even when demand increases, and have seen Language is a key challenge the MKU job, according to him, is to ensure each jig- comes with great expectations from both maintaining five schools – the existing four management did not anticipate when en- that I had saw piece fits in place. the citizens and the government”. He adds: and later, a School of Research and Post- tering Rwanda. He is excited that the university already ”During the 2016-2025 Strategic Plan pe- graduate Studies. something “We must accept that Francophone enjoys immense goodwill in Rwanda. And riod, delivery of the curriculum shall “Ten years from now, we will not have 10 Rwanda has for long used French as the of- to offer. I by faithfully contributing to Umuganda – be improved by increasing the number schools that are headed nowhere,” he de- ficial language,” he notes. “It only recently voluntarily supporting the vulnerable in of teaching staff, providing infrastructure, clares. “We want managed growth because welcome the added English as the other official language. society and socially advancing Rwanda’s introducing experiential learning as well we are keen on quality, not quantity.” appointment, Kenya is Anglophone, so students are taught community – the university has kept its fin- in English right from primary school. We and I will take ger on the pulse of the nation. have to take language differences into con- Prof Odhuno, however, acknowledges Prof Edwin Odhuno’s experience this job seri- sideration. that Rwanda’s higher education scene March 2016 – Present: Vice-Chancellor, Mount Kenya University, Kigali “Also, as MKU, we went into Rwanda ously. differs from Kenya’s, where MKU has its Jan 2013 – Feb 2016: Dean, School of Business and Economics, Mount Kenya Universi- with Kenyan accreditations, based on the roots. But he is quick to point out that ty Kenya Qualification Framework. Yet the re- MKU Rwanda has the benefit of learning June 2012 – Dec. 2012: Associate Dean, School of Business and Public Management, quirements for accreditation for health sci- from its Kenyan parent, which has scaled Mount Kenya University, Thika ence courses like pharmacy, nursing, public the heights of education after overcoming February 2012: Associate Professor at the School of Business and Business Manage- health and medical laboratory technology the natural challenges that face nascent ment, Mount Kenya University are different because the curricula for the academic institutions – and especially the July 2011: Associate Professor, Kampala International University (KIU), Dar es Salaam two countries differ. These courses had to privately funded. College be subjected to accreditation by Rwanda March 2011 –Jan 2012: Director of Academic Affairs, Kampala International University, Dar es Salaam Campus October 2010: Senior Lecturer and Director of Academic of Affairs, KIU College, Dar A lecturer’s testimony es Salaam. March 2008 – July 2009: Assistant Professor and Principal, American Hospitality Acade- helped the community to enhance their knowledge my, IHMS in Romania. and be in position to get jobs. One such important 2001- 2008: Head of Department, ’s Department of Ecotourism, programme is that of banking, finance and risk man- Hotel, and Institution Management 1996- 1997: Team Leader in Training at Burlington Marriott and Boston Marriott hotels in agement. Massachusetts, USA Students that enrolled in the programme are already 1995 – 1998: Held various management positions in Front Office and Housekeeping working in major insurance companies and in banks departments at Bethesda Marriott in Maryland and Washington DC, and Burlington, such as GT, Equity and KCB among others in Rwanda. Massachusetts, USA MKU has policies and manuals that enable students Summer 1994: Entremetier at the Good Earth restaurant in Palo Alto, California, U.S.A. to know exactly what they expect from the university. It is also ISO certified. When students enrol at MKU, they are guided by Achievements and Professional Recognition Dr Rusibana Claude mentors, and most of them end up eventually being June 2014: Awarded Education Leadership Award by the World Corporate Universities employed by the organisations in which they do their Congress, Mumbai, India I am an Assistant Lecturer at the School of Business and internship. July 2011: Appointed Associate Professor, Kampala International University Economics in Rwanda, teaching courses in accounting, At MKU, exams and results are moderated by internal July 2011: Appointed External Examiner, Technical University of Mombasa banking and finance. What I know about Mount Kenya 2006 – 2013: International Advisory Board Member, American Hospitality Academy and external examiners to ensure quality of the work University (MKU) is that it was the first to bring Mas- 2011 – Present: External Examiner, University of Eldoret, Kenya performed by lecturers. Another favourable feature at ter’s Programme in Rwanda. That was in 2008. 2001 – 2008: External Examiner, Kenyatta University, Kenya. Curriculum consultant for MKU is that the maximum number of students in a MKU came to solve the problem of many Rwandese, the United States International University and the Kenya Institute of Education, Kenya class is 50. This enhances the quality of teaching and who had to spend a lot of money to go abroad to pur- 1996: Willard Marriott Award of Excellence learning. sue studies. MKU brought Bachelor’s programmes that 1989: DeCosta Scholarship, Morgan State University, USA 20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Empowering Generations through Education MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY | 1996 - 2016 FOCUS ON RWANDA | III

Community Affairs Rwandese student receives Varsity’s ‘Umuganda’ gift scholarship worth Rw 24 million Francs Rwandese student Angeli- to needy genocide survivors que Redempta has received a full scholarship to study for a Bachelor of Medicine and n 30 July 2016, officials from Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) Mount Kenya University programme at MKU Main Rwanda (MKUR) handed over Campus. a house that the university had The 24 million Rwandan builtO for a blind widow, who had survived Francs scholarship covers tui- the infamous genocide of 1994. tion fee and accommodation Dr John Nyiligira, the Deputy Vice-Chan- for six years, the entire duration cellor, Planning, led the team that included of the course. It was offered by the varsity’s Royal TV and FM representa- Angelique Redempta the university as part of its Cor- tives in presenting MKU Rwanda’s Umu- porate Social Responsibility. ganda gift to the widow, her daughter and a The five member states that make up the East African granddaughter. Community have a uniform curriculum for the MBChB, Dr Nyiligira handed over the keys of the meaning that Ms. Redempta will be qualified to work at finished house to the executive of Nyaka- any hospital in East Africa once she graduates. banda sector in the presence of Rwanda “I would like to thank the university for this generous Patriotic Front (RPF), Nyakabanda repre- scholarship. I will pay back by working extra hard and as- sentative, National CNLG representative sisting other bright students in future,” she said. and the adviser of Nyakabanda sector in the presence of other people from two Mi- The official handing over of the house built by Mount Kenya University Rwanda in collaboration MKUR awards students in contest to dugudus. with Royal TV to a genocide widow, in the presence of Nyakabanda sector local authorities’ Dr Nyiligira explained that helping the representatives grow reading and writing culture needy was one of the university’s social pil- support families affected by genocide in ing that kind of support. lars. Mount Kenya University Rwanda (MKUR) is committed to every annual commemoration of the trag- The university has also awarded schol- helping youth develop their talents and a reading culture to He added that MKUR was also contribut- edy. arships to genocide survivors, and plans to ing to the Government of Rwanda and RPF broaden their knowledge. This year, the university donated food donate cows to needy families as identified On 23 July this year, it awarded a female secondary school programmes of developing the country and and other items to 20 families in Nyaka- by the local authorities. people as well. student of Lycee Notre Dame De Citeaux the grand prize of banda sector and started building a new Dr Nyiligira thanked the local authorities a laptop. The student had emerged top in the Urubuto Mag- The DVC explained that since its estab- house for the widow, who had been identi- and the community for working hand-in- lishment, the university has continued to azine writing competition, which had attracted 310 students fied by the sector local authorities as requir- hand with the university to build the house. from different schools in Kigali. The winner also received a T-shirt and arm band from Ke- pler University and certificate byUrubuto Magazine. Lycee Notre Dame De Citeaux took home the highest num- Star alumni awarded for ber of certificates, as it also had many entries. The school’s effort was lauded by the Editor of Urubuto Magazine, Denise their work in Rwanda Angela. The function took place at the Kigali Public Library in Ka- cyiru. It was graced by MKUR Vice Chancellor Prof Edwin The university has recognised three alumni who have excelled at their Odhuno, who stressed the importance of reading and writ- areas of work, leading to monumental social change in Kigali, Rwanda. ing, and developing great literary skills. Ruzindana Egide, Mbabazi Yvonne and Seraphine Kanyenyeri, were Mr Philippe from Kepler University appreciated everyone feted during a dinner held in their honour as Mount Kenya University who took the time to write an essay, and also introduced the services offered by the university. Kigali Campus alumni. Egide used his savings to found Love for Hope Children Home. The home, based in Gihogere village, Rwanda, rehabilitates street boys into COLLABORATION upright members of the society. Ruzindana Egide sorrounded by some of “The lecturers at Mount Kenya University were not merely teachers. the children from Love for Hope Children Home which he built using his savings Northern Michigan University officials’ visit They were friends. When I started this home, they were among the first to pay a visit,” he says. Two officials from Northern Michigan University (NMU) Ms Mbabazi started Mother and Child Development Centre, a com- led by Prof Madison N. Ngafeeson of information systems munity organisation that helps women street vendors develop business and director of MBA programme, paid a courtesy visit to skills. The centre also cares for the children of these mothers while they Mount Kenya University Rwanda (MKUR) in July to explore are away working. Mbabazi holds a Master’s degree in Public Health the following: from Mount Kenya University. • Students’ exchange programmes, especially in the area To Seraphine Kanyenyeri, it has been a patriotic calling, serving the of business and nursing, where NMU is very strong; Rwanda Military Hospital for 17 years. When Mount Kenya University • Staff exchange programme; • Joint research and publications between staff and became the first university in Rwanda to offer a Bachelor’s degree in Med- postgraduate students; ical Laboratory Sciences, she saw an opportunity to upgrade her skills. • Twinning programme agreements for some health She held a Diploma in Medical Laboratory from Kigali Health Insti- science related courses, especially in the area of infor- tute. The promotion came soon after graduation. She works as the Bi- matics. osafety, Biosecurity officer and store manager. After the meeting, the MKUR Vice Chancellor Prof Edwin Ruzindana received an all-expenses paid trip to Mombasa, Kenya Odhuno, was positive of the collaboration, saying one of while Mbabazi and Kanyenyeri received plasma TVs. the university’s successes was focus on collaborations that improved academics as well as physical infrastructure. Seraphine Kanyenyeri

20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Empowering Generations through Education IV | FOCUS ON RWANDA 1996 - 2016 | MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY

MKU Rwanda Alumni It’s a fulfilling range of benefits Where student welfare, co-curricular interests get for MKU Rwanda graduates generous support tudying at the Kigali-based Mount Kenya University (MKU) Rwanda Mount Kenya University Rwanda runs a vibrant is a lifetime’s opportunity to build student welfare system driven by a team of ener- ties that truly bind. getic students and staff. Now with the coming of all academic activities under one roof at the SThe Alumni Relations Office keeps in university’s building in Kagarama, things are ex- constant touch with MKU Rwanda gradu- pected to get even better, according to Ms Purity ates to keep them abreast of all the exciting Wairimu, the Dean of Students. activities open to them as alumni, and the “We are excited that the institution is becom- benefits that come with being a graduate of ing a fully-fledged university,” says the dean. “We the university. are also excited that we are moving to our new The coordinator, Mr Patrice Baraka, says building in Kagarama, a one-stop shop and more the host of activities the office runs go a spacious. We intend to increase activities so that long way in opening new paths for alumni. our students continue enjoying the environment Activities such as career networking, social within the campus and discover as well as har- events, educational programmes, cultural ness their talents.” and sporting activities as well as volunteer- The university receives students of all nation- ism, enhance alumni profiles. alities, and it endeavours to make them comfort- His office also organises and facilitates able. exit trainings, workshops, exhibitions, con- “Working closely with the management team, ferences and inter-student academic com- we aim to ensure that students are all-rounded,” petitions and forums. Ms Wairimu says as she explains why the univer- “The Alumni Association provides a life- Kigali Campus graduands all smiles on their big day sity intends to expand the range of co-curricula long connection to our alumni through a activities open to students. variety of programmes and services,” he Students engage in volleyball, football and says. “You get more than the satisfaction of others, and take part in several competitions staying connected and making a difference. across Rwanda. University indoor games include pool, dart and table tennis. Membership gives you access to exclusive The university’s debate club is famous in benefits, unique events, and valuable dis- Rwanda as a winning outfit. The club participates counts.” in different forums, including regional debates, He breaks down the value of being an and often emerges top. The team has won several alumnus as follows: trophies. It is currently preparing for the East Af- rica University Debate Championship to be held Member Discounts in Rwanda, and looks forward to winning. The Alumni Association has partnered with During MKU’s ninth and 10th graduation MKU’s Institute of Capacity Building (ICB), ceremonies, the university’s outreach club enter- which offers short leadership and manage- tained guests with the beautiful Rwanda cultural ment courses. The institute gives alumni dance known as Itorero. This group visits schools discounts on every short course they pur- Mount Kenya University Rwanda Patrice Baraka, Alumni Relations Coordinator and other learning institutions to entertain and sue. Also, MKU gives discounts to alumni deliver messages of hope, and to encourage stu- who want to study for other degrees. dents to work hard in their studies. They have your MKU pride. First, you have a place to great things for members, students, and been involved in the community service (Umu- Beneficial sense of belonging call home in Rwanda. Your membership is alma mater. Membership offers many ganda), carried out every month in the whole of Membership in the Mount Kenya University also a vote for the value of MKU education, other great benefits. Rwanda. Alumni Association is a great way to show and enables the Alumni Association to do The health science students have not been left behind. They have an umbrella club called Tesi returns for Masters, wins Guild presidency Health Sciences, which consists of students in nursing, pharmacy, laboratory sciences and pub- The first time she was a student at Mount Kenya Uni- “In Kigali, MKU was not housed in one building, lic health. versity Kigali campus, she served as the Student Guild’s and coordinating student affairs was a challenge,” Ms Every semester, the club holds an open day secretary. Tesi Esther joined the university in 2013 to Tesi says. “But now the university is shifting to the new and invites the general public and high school study for a Bachelor of Information Science degree, and building at Kagarama, and this will make our work eas- students to learn more about health. The stu- was elected to the student leadership body in 2014. ier.” dents offer free check-ups, such as body mass She graduated with First Class Honours and returned Ms Tesi explains that she chose Mount Kenya Univer- index (BMI), blood pressure, blood sugar, hae- to the same university early this year for her Masters sity Rwanda for her undergraduate degree because the moglobin tests, among others. The club wants to Degree programme. This February, she vied for the top Bachelor’s degree is accomplished in about three years, extend its outreach to other districts. guild seat and clinched it, making history by becoming when in other universities it takes four years. “The first woman guild president in the history of MKU. university is also ISO 9001:2008 certified, meaning it Freedom of worship. “I am passionate to contribute to society, and that meets global quality standards,” she adds. Regarding life’s challenges, the dean says, “We do is why I am ready to lead even at village level,” she ex- Tesi says she also enjoyed the support she received understand that sometimes life and academics plains her love for leadership. “I enjoy being part of the from management. “These factors encouraged me to re- pressures can overwhelm our students, and this group providing solutions rather just sitting there and turn here for my Master’s programme. My department’s is why we have a university counsellor available complaining when things do not go right.” coordinator had also informed me that if I came back 24 hours for the students.” Students and staff Her biggest challenge as a student leader during her to MKU for my second degree, I would get a 10 per cent exercise freedom of worship and the university Tesi Esther, MKU Rwanda Guild undergraduate studies was the location of Mount Kenya reduction in tuition fees. And now, here I am. Long live supports their initiatives. President University Rwanda campus in three different places. MKU.” 20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Empowering Generations through Education MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY | 1996 - 2016 | 11

ICT From humble beginning to ICT savvy university and business/entrepreneurship education Computer outreach in the year 2002. In the year 2005, the In- initiative offered stitute became the 1st private institution in Kenya to be allowed to train pharmaceutical certificate of technologists by the Pharmacy and Poisons participation; MKU Board of the Ministry of Health. In 2006, the Commission for Higher Ed- trains up to PhD level ucation (CHE) validated and approved the institute’s request for collaboration with Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture ount Kenya University is the and Technology (JKUAT) to offer both di- university that technology ploma and degree programmes. built. Information and com- The Institute continued to work closely munication technology has with the CHE in line with the stipulated Mremained a powerful ally of the university guidelines for establishing a privately since Dr Simon Gicharu, the founder, made funded university. In May 2008, the CHE tentative steps to build an academic institu- after verifying all the requirements as stip- tion in 1996. ulated in the guidelines of establishing a From a computer outreach then, MKU privately funded University (1989 Rules) has scaled the heights of ICT. At inception, establishment of a full-fledged privately the Computer Outreach Centre had just cide to move on, I will leave the computers of Information Communication Tech- Thika Institute of funded chartered university called Mount Technology (TIT), one programme in computer packages. to the church.’ nology (ICT) both Mobile Telephony and Kenya University following grant of a Letter Participants were awarded certificates of “He brought computers and teachers. Computer Technology had started gaining the forerunner of MKU which used of Interim Authority. participation. They started operating in our branches in momentum in rural and urban centres. to offer computer The MKU Digital Varsity is a new students Kigumo, Gichagi-ini, Gituro, Mwarano, In the year 2000, Dr Gicharu established Today it not only offers programmes in training learning experience and it’s the evidence of ICT but also uses the technology to deliver Ichagi-ini and Kandara, among others. Thika Institute of Technology, a tertiary col- integration between learning and technol- education to thousands of students spread “In all these places, generators had to be lege offering management and computer ogy at the university. across the world. carried around because electricity was not training programmes. In the same year the MKU’s Digital Learning has a number of With 10,000 students, MKU’s Digital Var- available in most of rural Murang’a then.” Ministry of Education, Science and Tech- state-of-the-art features. One of these pow- sity is one of the largest private universities Rt Rev Maina says Dr Gicharu then nology registered the Thika Institute of erful features is the ability to offer group providing access to education in East and founded Thika Institute of Technology Technology, TIT. collaboration sites. These sites are easy to Central Africa through this medium. (TIT), the forerunner of MKU. “He came In order to remain relevant with the set up, and users easily serve themselves. It has been a dizzying rise to zenith of back to Thika and put more efforts in the training needs of the society, the institute On many campuses, collaboration sites ICT use. small institute he already had there. He was initiated training programmes in the fields have become so popular with faculty and One man who recalls this epic tale is the able to build TIT from then. I admire him of paramedical, information technology students that the learning environment Right Reverend Joseph Maina, the Modera- for his determination because even though popularly known as Learning manage- tor of the African Christian Churches and the computer outreach initiative did not ment systems, has had an increased rates An old generator Schools. succeed as envisioned, he soldiered on and of adoption, with little resistance than ex- “Gicharu approached the church way went on to build the great institution that that would be carried around pected. Collaboration sites have diverse back in 1996 to request if he could be al- is Mount Kenya University. He has a great African Christian uses: they can be used by researchers who mind. But back then, no one could have lowed to use space in our churches to offer Church and need to work with their colleagues around computer training classes,” he remembers. imagined that the computer outreach idea Schools branches the world, faculty engaged in governance “He said, ‘give me space for a class. I will would germinate into a university.” to power computer committee work can also make use of it, bring computers. If the business makes a When Dr Gicharu came up with the com- outreach classes and so can students working with research profit, we will share with ACC & S. If I de- puter outreach initiative, the development run by Dr. Simon committees, study groups, or activity clubs. Gicharu in 1996

Tweeting Chief: Varsity raises alumnus’ profile

Had Lanet’s tweeting Chief Francis Kariuki encoun- ton Post among other international media outlets. tered Dr Simon Gicharu in 1996 carrying a gen- In December 2012, he made a presentation on eratorto power computers for teaching computer the use of social media in improving human rights, literacy classes, and be informed that one day the at the UNHCR world human rights day in Swit- computer training initiative would grow into a uni- zerland. The following year, Chief Kariuki spoke Ranjuera, Rongai. “As a head teacher, I was only versity that would award him a degree through ICT, at the Google ideas conference in New York, USA. serving a group of 300 pupils and 12 teachers. I he would have ordered Dr Gicharu’s immediate ar- In 2014, he was the keynote speaker at the Social felt I have a bigger capacity to serve more there- rest with no option of a fine – for using outdated Media & Internet Law Enforcement (SMILE) con- fore being a Chief provided me the platform to technology. ference in Tampa, Florida. His presentation was on exercise my potential.” He responds to tweets by Chief Kariuki, the Umoja Lanet Chief who is the use of Twitter as a tool for community policing. his over 50,000 followers in real time. He says he popular for using Twitter to fight crime, graduated He has won several awards, notably the Tweet chose MKU Digital Varsity because of the flexibility with a Bachelors degree in Counselling Psychology of the Year at the annual Social Media Awards of study and the “global standard when it comes to from Mount Kenya University. (SOMA) and The Giraffe Heroes Award. Chief Kar- educational materials and standard CATS.” The fa- Thanks to his selfless service, this humble but iuki worked as a teacher for 21 years before he was ther of three has a desire to train other Chiefs in the gallant “people’s servant” has previously been pro- transferred to the Office of the President in 2010. country on how he uses social media in his work. “Hopefully, together we can make the world a bet- Francis Kariuki filed on CNN, Daily Telegraph, BBC and Huffing- His last teaching career was at The Lord’s School ter place to live in.” 20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scaling the heights of education 12 | 1996 - 2016 | MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY

Student Affairs

Fact file on sporting achievements Varsity establishes 40 2013 • Kenya Universities games overall runners-up • Kenya Universities games soccer champions • Kenya Universities games runners-up in digital study villas tennis, rugby & athletics Student Wi-Fi buses, 2014 • World University cross country gold medal in the 10.5 Km race swimming pool, • games silver medal in computer game centre men’s soccer • East Africa University games Gold and gym make the medallists in athletics and karate university stand out. • East Africa University games runners up in handball and athletics n ultra-modern student centre • East Africa University games second with a wide variety of facilities runners up in volleyball and an expansive playing field are • Kenya Universities cross country gold today available to students. medals in 12km men & 8km women AIn just two decades, MKU and its prede- • Kenya Universities women athletics cessor have come a long way in providing championship third position overall for the welfare of students. MKU precursor TIT, located in Thika town and constrained of space, offered 2015 • Kenya Universities games champions in sport-minded students little joy. women’s handball “The institute did not have recreational • Kenya Universities games runners up in facilities for students,” MKU Dean of Stu- St Paul’s Secondary School students during an academic tour at the University Karate, Volleyball & athletics dents Evans Mwango recalls. “Students former students lived in Thika town, some for their money. would pour out into the street outside to with their relatives, others in people’s serv- In June 2016, the MKU athletics team 2016 • Africa University games gold medal in bask as they waited for the next lesson to ant quarters. The town lacked hostels and won eight medals in South Africa in June. 110 m hurdles start. We would later hire the General Kago getting accommodation was tough for stu- “It is remarkable that these days MKU Primary School’s field. Students would visit dents. Today, MKU has hostels that com- nurtures sporting talent and produces win- other schools to play games but as an insti- fortably accommodate more than 2,000 ners,” remarked Mr Omwango. tution, we did not have a field of our own.” students. Kenya’s 15s rugby team has one MKU Once the university was established, “we The dean reveals that even student health student, Martin Owilla. put up a basketball court, swimming pool underwent positive change. From availabil- Even in politics, MKU has produced and indoor games facilities,” says Mr Om- ity of painkillers to manage pain, MKU has leaders, youthful Uasin Gishu Senator. wango. a health clinic with all the necessary equip- “Student leadership in the university is “We have been growing since and built ment, personnel and medicine. issue-based,” the dean points out. “It is not a modern student centre. It has an indoor From an institution that did not have about which tribe you belong to or where arena, gym, salon, supermarket, cyber café, its own field, MKU is today the home of you come from. It is about the ideas you a sitting area with Wi-Fi and open spaces sports champions. Indeed, it ranks among have. Two of our student leaders are inter- with roofing for students to relax and bask the best in sports in Kenya with its athletes national: one from Uganda and the other in comfort.” participating in national and international from South . Mr Omwango says even housing at MKU competitions and giving opponents a run has evolved over time. He remembers the Trophy chest MKU Athletics team shines in South Africa Can we stem tide of school unrests? MKU has not taken a back seat on the recent series of unrests The university sponsored 4 players to South Africa for in and burning of schools. Two university counsellors and the 8th edition of the Federation of Africa University faculty members have authored a book titled, “An Integrated Sports (FASU), following a spectacular win during the Approach To Peer Counselling”. universities trial games that were held in Eldoret on It is aimed at equipping teachers with knowledge to 14th May 2016. guide and counsel the youth. The team scooped 8 medals in total; 1 Gold medal, The MKU Centre of 2 silver medals and 5 bronze medals. The team faced Counselling has university steep competition in the 200m and 100M races from counsellors, peer counsellors the Ghananians whom they had met earlier at the All and mentors, who guide Africa Senior games in Durban. students on pertinent issues The University team comprised of sprinters Sylvester such as campus life, family Nakeel, Peter Mwai, Mathew Rapando and Charles therapy, coping with education Wanjiru was ranked 3rd position in Africa. Late last and financial challenges, year they were crowned KUSA Relay Champions at among others. Bondo. The book is on sale at the MKU Speaking during their home coming celebration, the bookshop, and one can also Dean of Students Mr. Evans Omwango congratulated book a copy through emailing the team and assured them of the support from the [email protected]. management towards their all-round growth.

20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scalis altitudines educationis MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY | 1996 - 2016 | 13

Student Affairs

MKU School of Law students emerge Best Orators at Institute of Creative and Manfred Lachs Moot Court Competition in South Africa Performing Arts nurtures talents Creative and performing arts have thrived since their introduc- ount Kenya University School tion at MKU in 2002. The drama and music clubs have over the of Law was declared Best Or- years catapulted brilliant students from local talents to national ators at the Manfred Lachs and international fame. International Space law Moot The drama club hosts a biweekly show known as “Kill it CourtM Competition held in Pretoria, South Thursday”, where some of the most creative actors, comedians, Africa, on the 26th and 27th May 2016. poets and musicians take the stage to entertain their fellow stu- The Space law competition compromis dents. dealt with complex matters of damage and liability caused by space objects. The stu- MKU Brass Band dents were required to defend and argue for the two states (Rastalia and Banche) that were involved in the launching and de-orbiting of the above mentioned space objects. The School of Law orators impressed the judges to emerge top at the East African Re- gion by crushing two teams from Makerere University. The MKU team also emerged second in the Oral rounds by tying with the Univer- sity of Pretoria for the second runner-up position. The difference in the oral rounds between the winners, Orifowomo Univer- sity from , and Mount Kenya Uni- Kenya National Music Festival Winners versity, was only one point.

Scholarships for refugee students at MKU The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding MKU Parklands School of Law in Parklands, Nairobi is a centre of excellence in legal training. It has some of the best facilities in the region including an ultra-modern Moot with Mount Kenya University that will see Court and a well-stocked library more students from the world’s largest refu- gee camp get sponsorship to study at MKU. DRC provides protection, livelihood and costs. The students are from Daadab and playing in helping transform the lives of scholarships to refugee students. The organ- Kakuma Refugee camps. the refugees. The MKU troupe won in 16 items during the Ken- isation, which works closely with the De- The sponsored students are currently DRC Country Director, David Kang’ethe ya Music Festival, 2016. Two of the awards it won partment of Refugee Affairs and the Refugee pursuing their studies at the university. will in the near future deliver a Public Lec- were in two Central Bank of Kenya sponsored Consortium of Kenya, is currently support- MKU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Stanley ture on “Refugee Management” at MKU music classes. This also earned the MKU teams ing over 80 students at MKU by paying their Waudo, appreciated the role DRC was Thika Main Campus. KSh350,000. school fees, maintenance and medical care The troupe also bagged an award in the “Nyum- Freedom of worship ba Kumi” category sponsored by the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Govern- ment.

As a result of their exemplary performance, two MKU teams from the main campus were slotted for the gala scheduled for 19th August, 2016.

Fact file on drama and music performances a) 2012 Twelve (12) awards at the National Music festivals b) 2013 Nineteen (19) awards at the National Music festivals c) 2013 One (1) award at the National Drama festivals d) 2015 Nine (9) awards and University category overall winners in the Mount Kenya University Muslim students praying at their mosque The MKU Christian Union hosts Citizen TV Kubamba Gospel Sunday National Drama festivals

20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scaling the heights of education 14 | 1996 - 2016 | MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY

MKU Scholarships This university was built for me – Jespher Onyango

Mr Onyango had seven daughters when In the meantime, her classmates went She says MKU scholarship he picked the girl who had no home after and tactfully approached the university’s fleeing her abusive adopted parents’ home Founder and Chairman, Dr Simon Gich- transformed her life in Kisii. aru. They confronted him and asked what She narrates: “They mistreated me, dam- he could do if he learnt that someone was f you wish to appreciate Mount Kenya aged one of my ears through caning and sleeping in a university class. He said he University’s raison d’etre, meet Jespher slapping. Despite this, they planned I get would help that person. Nyaboke Onyango. If she is not attend- married while I was still young. This forced Unknown to Ms Onyango, they had “This uni- ing a lecture, you are likely to find her me to escape that home.” just changed the course of her destiny. Dr workingI in the university’s medical labora- At MKU, she had not discussed with her Gicharu offered her a scholarship, “So that versity has tory on the ground floor of the Chancellor’s latest benefactor – the Registrar – where she I could be like the rest and study without transformed Tower. would sleep. Already overwhelmed with his any problem,” she says. He also offered her my life. I Listening to her life story, you would not generosity, she feared burdening him. a job at the university. would not need to interrupt her with questions. Her She found an unorthodox solution to Under this arrangement, she completed her certificate course and registered for a be who I am tale flows easily. And after she pours out her her predicament, though. Once lectures heart, you will not need to ask who needed were over, she would return to her class and diploma. She then proceeded to her under- today if I had who between Ms Onyango and MKU. sleep on the floor. graduate studies and earned her first degree. not come “MKU was built for me,” she declares, However, it did not take long for her se- She is currently studying for her Master’s to MKU. It eyes misting with tears that threaten to cret to be discovered. degree in medical laboratory technology burst forth if unchecked. “This university “One day I overslept,” she recalls. “A sciences. has been my has transformed my life. I would not be watchman known as Nathan tried to push An orphan whose single mother died home for who I am today if I had not come to MKU. the door open and wondered why it could while she was only two and was adopted the last ten It has been my home for the last 10 years.” not yield to his effort. I had placed desks twice, Ms Onyango has succeeded beyond This bold statement is not an attempt across the door. But finally, it gave way. I her wildest dreams. Jespher Nyaboke Onyango years.” to praise the university, but the passionate had been found out after days of sleeping Her poignant pursuit of university educa- declaration of a touched soul. turn to for fees. in class.” tion is an illustration of the resilience of the Ms Onyango arrived at the university in “Mr Musumi thought how he could help. To her shock, when her fellow students human spirit. Her narrative also demon- 2007 from Nyamira armed with a KSh4,000 He fished KSh100 from his pocket and in- learnt of her plight, they did an impromptu strates how far determination can propel an from the Constituency Development Fund structed me to deposit it into the univer- harambee and secretly raised funds for individual in life. It is also a vindication of (CDF) kitty. She had scored a C in the sity’s account. He reasoned that once my her. Trying to solve her problem, she ap- philanthropy and the transformative power previous year’s Form 4 examinations and name was on the bank slip, I would have proached St Patrick’s Church in Thika town of university education. promptly applied for a certificate course at technically become a bona fide student.” and several non-governmental organisa- “I hope one day I will be able to help MKU. And so, it came to pass. tions for help. other students achieve their goals just as “By the time I arrived there, I had spent Ms Onyango, the young girl who lost the “It seemed that they did not realise how Dr Gicharu helped me as though I was his all the money on shopping, buying essen- Good Samaritan whose name she carries, desperate I was,” she narrates her frustra- child,” vows the proud scholar. “He has tials,” she reminisces. “I approached the became a student of MKU. The man who tion. inspired me to support others. Without then registrar, Mr Afubwa Musumi, for adopted and educated her up to second- Ultimately, she received KSh30,000 from patrons willing to support less privileged help. I explained my case to him, telling ary school died when she needed him the the church. students like me, I would never have at- him I was an orphan and had nowhere to most. tained advanced health care education.” Against the odds: Moses Thuo’s triumph in scholarship

An encounter with Moses Thuo, 29, will confirm again – drop out of school for lack of money. Be- CDF and Ministry of Education, he managed to the truism that Lady Luck smiles upon those who cause he had to repeat classes many times, Thuo study up to Form 4. persist in pursuing their dreams. He is the epit- sat his KCSE exam at the advanced age of 29. This When the results of the 2010 KCSE were re- ome of determination. is not the age at which the majority of young peo- leased, he had scored a B-minus of 56 points. When a young lad of 12 witnesses his family ple complete their secondary education; they do Lacking money to take him to college, he re- disintegrate, you will expect his spirit to crumble. so while in their teens. turned to his trusted welding trade. It was a frus- Thuo’s father and mother divorced when he was His single mother was too poor to afford tak- trating period for him. in Class 5 but he put on a brave face and contin- ing him to Gathiruiini Secondary School which Things were not made easier as he was ridi- ued going to school – a distance of 17km. This is had selected him to join Form I. culed by his colleagues. They told him he had because his mother, Lucy Wanja, deprived of the Going back to class became second nature to wasted valuable time in school, while some of support of her former husband, relocated Thuo him because his indigent circumstances forced them were busy minting money. and his five siblings from their ‘home’ to Githun- him to abandon his studies several times. Then His pursuit of education was not in vain, guri town’s Laini Saba slums. That was quite he would return to class when his fortunes im- though. During a prize-giving day at his former some distance away from his primary school. proved slightly. secondary school, he was invited to give a moti- But the young man kept his ambitions alive by To support himself, he worked as an appren- vational talk. Unknown to him, the chief guest continuing with his education – intermittently. tice mechanic from 1999 to 2001 in Githunguri was Dr Simon Gicharu, the Founder and Chair- He sat his KCPE exam in 1998, many years town. Then he switched to welding. man of Mount Kenya University, himself an old MKU founder Dr. Simon Gicharu congratulates after his peers with whom he had joined Class 1 In 2002, he moved to Nairobi in search of bet- boy of the school. Moses Thuo during his graduation the same year. To even get to Class 8, he endured ter fortunes but things did not work and he re- Moved by the young man’s story of persistence the challenge of walking 17km daily to and from turned to Githunguri two years later. In 2007, he in spite of encountering a myriad challenges, he long while and attain the dream of becoming a school – for three years. The effects of his parents’ decided he would go back to class. He scrounged offered him a full scholarship to study Business financial manager. He took his chance with both estrangement appeared not to have affected his and saved. By March 2008, he had accumulated Administration at MKU as part of the university’s hands and excelled in his studies. studies though. He excelled. Sh10,000 in savings. Friends and former class- corporate social responsibility. Thuo’s advice to the youth, especially from When he received his KCPE results, his family mates chipped in with Sh7,000, enabling him to “Thuo is a shining example of how one can poor backgrounds, is never to lose faith in life was ecstatic. He had obtained 481 marks out of pay fees and join Gathiruiini Secondary School conquer financial challenges and shine, and but to work hard, as there is always a way out 700. He had passed and would head to the sec- in Form 2. our university is proud to help him achieve his of any situation. He promised to work hard so ondary school of his choice. With his welding experience, he did not have dreams,” Dr Gicharu said. as not to let his sponsor down. He is currently But that was not to be. Lack of fees locked him to buy a box: he fabricated one himself. And that marked the turning point for Thuo. employed at Mount Kenya University Finance out of immediate entry into secondary school. During the holidays he worked at workshops With a full scholarship valued at KSh800,000, he Directorate. Thuo lost ten years since he had to – again and in Githunguri. Supported by bursaries from the had the opportunity to learn uninterrupted in a

20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scalis altitudines educationis MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY | 1996 - 2016 | 15

Research

the Global Fund and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is for research into the University receives research grants ravages of malaria and bilharzia. The Sh40 million is for research into ways of reduc- ing deaths among newborns in Bungoma County. amounting to KSh 200m in two years This year the Directorate of Research and Development received a Sh90 million grant from the Templeton World Charity to pro- mote closer ties between science and faith Spearheading research, under the auspices of the Kenya Christian innovation to address Science Association (KCSA). According to Dr Muregi, this will help society’s many challenges close the gap between science and reli- gion. He cites the controversy that hit the vaccination of children in Kenya when the ociety embraces a university’s ex- church challenged the exercise as an ex- istence if it addresses the people’s ample of a misunderstanding that can be challenges. Mount Kenya University ironed out through the KCSA initiative. has moved a notch higher by creat- MKU, asserts its Director of Research, Sing knowledge, with senior staff’s research is also passionate about human health proposals attracting funding at an unprece- and specifically, non-communicable dis- dented rate. For a university aged just eight eases. “Sub-Saharan Africa has for long but whose heritage stretches 20 years back, invested in the control and management MKU has done remarkably well in research. of communicable diseases,” he notes. “But Dr Francis Wamakima Muregi, the Direc- non-communicable diseases such as can- tor, Research, Grants and Endowments, says cer, hypertension and diabetes have be- the young university has made progress in Dr Francis Wamakima Muregi, come a big public health burden that must its quest to generate knowledge. Director, Research, Grants and Endowments be addressed. At MKU, we are establishing “Because this is the hallmark of academic MKU research centre a centre for non-communicable diseases excellence, MKU had to start undertaking and mental health (Cencom). Both have research.” ing in journals requires money,” says Dr This initiative has seen Netfund, which been neglected by the public health system. “As a young university, we cannot afford Muregi. “We pay for our faculty. If they at- supports environmental initiatives, fund “We hope the centre will be ready in six to sit back like established ones. We need tend conferences, we sponsor them to dis- two innovations by MKU. months. It will spearhead the management, to generate income through research while seminate their research findings.” The university has an initiative dubbed prevention and research in these two areas. also providing solutions to challenges fac- These days, MKU staff register 40 to 50 MKUIP – an innovators’ platform – that This research will be aligned to MKU’s ing society,” he says. research publications every year, an indica- brings together young innovators from the strength of training in human health This journey began with a single re- tion that the university is developing into university and experienced ones from out- This journey sciences like pharmacy, clinical medicine searcher and his assistant but today MKU a research hub. Staff members also super- side. The idea is to bring mentors who will began with and nursing. These are courses we offer at has a fully-fledged research centre. This vise postgraduate students who also do re- guide the young researchers. a single re- the university and the research will enable promotes centralised use and management search. Efforts to promote research at MKU over searcher and us to optimise the health training facilities of research equipment and facilities. It also “We are encouraging research among the last three years have borne fruit as fund- we have.” facilitates the establishment of research and staff and students, not for job promotion ing starts to trickle in. “Research is expen- his assistant According to Dr Muregi, the university academic programmes at undergraduate but to address the challenges of our com- sive and you cannot undertake it without but today promotes and encourages staff and stu- and postgraduate levels. munities,” says Dr Muregi. funding,” observes Dr Muregi. “We are MKU has a dents to undertake quality research. “Orig- In the beginning, the research output was “No university in Kenya teaches a unit happy that we attracting funding from var- inal research is crucial, so we developed a poor with staff publishing five to 10 publi- called ‘innovation.’ But we would like to ious sources.” fully-fledged plagiarism policy. Before staff and students cations every year. Even the university fac- see our staff and students innovate and Last year, D Jesse Gitaka, one of the research cen- publish their findings, we subject their ulty was young. generate ideas that address problems facing university’s lecturers received two grants tre. work to anti-plagiarism software.” The university made it easy for its re- our communities. Some innovators are not totalling Sh50 million to undertake health searchers to publish their work. “Publish- even graduates yet.” research. The Sh10 million he received from

The MKU research journey Funding

Mount Kenya University was granted a Letter of Interim Au- In 2015, Dr Jesse Gitaka Also in 2015, MKU Chairman thority by the then Commission for Higher Education in 2008. received two grants Dr Simon Gicharu gave the amounting to Two years later, it commenced its research journey in earnest. Directorate KSh40 million to KSh50 million. spur innovation. Here are the major milestones along the way: • In 2010, the university began putting in place research The first grant of structures by establishing the Directorate of Research and Innovation. KSh10 million was • In 2011, it developed research policy documents includ- from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. ing research policy, Intellectual Property Policy, institu- In 2016, a team of MKU scholars led by Dr. tional linkages policy among other research roadmap Francis W. Muregi, Director, Research, Grants documents The second grant and Endowments received a • In 2012, it crafted a Research Strategic Plan to run from 2012 to 2018. of KSh40 million KSh90 million grant from Templeton World was from the United Charity for a three-year project on Science Kingdom’s DFID. and Religion running from 2016 to 2019.

20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scaling the heights of education 16 | 1996 - 2016 | MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY

CSR

ing MKU, Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, County Govern- Varsity sponsors first ment of Turkana, Nation Media Group and UNESCO. It was held as the Millennium Development Goals were about to lapse. The next Summit will be held in the context of the Sustainable Development national water summit Goals. It will build on the gains realised, as he National Water Summit (NWS) well as assess the challenges the partners/ was held in Turkana County in participants are facing, especially in im- October, 2014. Precisely, the sum- plementing the policy recommendations mit took place at the shores of made at the inaugural Summit. The venue TLake Turkana in northern Kenya. and theme will also be different in order to The event attracted participants from var- expose other regions to the importance of ious persuasions. sustainable water management strategies. Dr Vincent Gaitho, who was involved in The impact has been multi-faceted, the the organisation of the event, says: “We had most tangible being the elevation of water participants from academia, governments, issues (availability, access, sustainability, politicians, industry, international organi- role in conflicts etc) to national debate, and sations, non-governmental organisations, prioritisation in the development agenda of among others.” both the national and county governments. MKU was the lead sponsor/organiser of The Summit was officially opened by the Summit. Besides a monetary contribu- retired President Mwai Kibaki, then as pa- tion of Ksh10 million, the university han- tron of the Millennium Water Alliance. He dled the logistics as well as the programme was recently appointed UNESCO’s special and presentation of papers. envoy for water in Africa. The meeting brought together water ex- Water is in the 2030 global agenda for perts drawn from both national and inter- sustainable development. Building on the national institutions, political leaders and Former President H.E. Mwai Kibaki as chief guest with other dignitaries during the first National Water Summit held Millennium Development Goals, the Sus- governments, to chart the way forward in at Kristine Camp, L. Turkana. tainable Development Goals on water go the harnessing and management of this further by laying emphasis on its quality, vital resource. the conference, however, was international, was advised by the importance of water as efficient use, protection and restoration Research fronted by UNESCO revealed bringing water management and harness- a resource and the need to effectively man- of related ecosystems. This means that the that Turkana had massive water aquifers ing experience from as far as Israel. age it. breadth of players has now widened. that could sustain the entire country for The theme of the conference was, “Water The first National Water Summit was a Time is certainly ripe to take stock up to 70 years and beyond. The outlook of for Socio-Economic Development”. This collective effort by several partners, includ- through another international Summit.

MKU sponsors visually challenged beauty pageant

Mount Kenya University was the sponsor of catered for the comfort of physically chal- the June 30, 2016 Mr & Miss Visually Chal- lenged and abled-differently people to lenged beauty contest held at the Thika School help them achieve their academic objec- for the Blind. The event was organised through tives. the MKU main campus in Thika by the reign- ing Mr & Miss MKU – Mr Morris Ndonye and Miss Neila Ngina respectively. The winners were crowned in a colourful event attended by the Associate Dean of Students, Mr Emmanuel Awuor. They were presented with laptops with braille learning support functionality. The pageant encouraged the visually challenged pupils to see the world in a different way and to appreciate themselves. It was aimed at boosting their self-es- teem. Speaking at the event, Mr Awuor said that MKU had MKU sponsored beauty pageant at Thika School for the well-constructed facilities that Blind Big-hearted: MKU students donate blood

20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scalis altitudines educationis MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY | 1996 - 2016 | 17

CSR

Alumnus’ love for Rwanda’s children provides home and hope

“We are the world, we are the children”

Ruzindana Egide says that even his host community at Peace Ambassadors Kenya MKU Chapter students perform noble jobs to physically and mentally challenged children of Gihogere village bears wit- Majimazuri home, Mwiki. ness to the help he has re- ceived from MKU

When we first met Ruzindana Egide in 2014, he was bubbling with hope over the future of children he takes care of at a home he founded in Gihogere village, Rwanda. Now, the hope has turned into reality as some of the boys have since found jobs. “We have also acquired a three-hectare piece of land on which we are growing maize, vegetables and rearing rabbits,” says the Social Work and Administration degree holder. Love for Hope Children Home has Ruzindana Egide, a MKU alumnus, explains what drove him to establish Love for Hope Keeping the enviroment clean: MKU pharmacy students in a 27 children currently. Participate in foot- Children Home clean-up exercise along General Kago Road - Thika to mark ball, song and dance and handicraft mak- pharmacy awareness week ing. a visit. Through my course, I gained coun- encouraged by the support I have received Egide is currently pursuing a Master of selling skills which have been very impor- from various quarters so far. Every human Development Studies. “The lecturers at tant to me when I am rehabilitating the being has potential within themselves of Mount Kenya University were not merely street children and helping them develop achieving something great for humanity. teachers. They were friends. When I started good character. “The lecturers believed in The secret lies in having the commitment this home, they were among the first to pay me. They put me on the path to becoming and right skills.” who I am today. I have big dreams and I am

Mount Kenya University , communications and corporate Affairs Director, Mark Rachuonyo(left) presents a cheque of Kshs 500,000 to Director - Health and medical Advocacy, Dr. Nelly Bosire, to MKU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Stanley Waudo, ambassador support the Step by Step cervical cancer to Kenya H.E. Mohamed Ali, MKU staff, CFBT Education Trust campaign. This is an initiative of Swiftmed officials (donors) and students pose for a photo during the Solutions and Smile Woman Community launch of the Dadaab scholarship programme at the varsity’s based organisation in partnership with Thika Town Campus. Mount Kenya University.

The initiative intends to raise Ksh.50 million to provide medical treatment to poor rural women of Migori County suffering from cervical cancer. The five men walked from Migori to Mombasa, covering 1000km to raise this money.

Mount Kenya University has a strong community emphasis, providing high quality education to all Kenyans irrespective of locality. It is this strong sense of community investment that drives the university to give back to society in supporting this initiative.

Mount Kenya University donates food and other personal items to Thika children rescue centre 20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scaling the heights of education 18 | 1996 - 2016 | MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY

VICE-CHANCELLOR

Extract from Prof Stanley W. Waudo’s Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION VC earns three-year 1984: PhD. Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 50011, U.S.A. Major: Plant Pathology Area of Specialization – Plant Nematology 1982: M.Sc. Iowa State University Major: Plant Pathology Area of Specialization: Plant Nematology term extension 1980: B.A. Central College adding that it is encouraging that the re- Pella Iowa 50219, U.S.A. search is published in respected interna- Major: Biology Deal makes him one 1974: African Advanced Certificate of Education tional journals. E.A.S.C.E, Kericho High School of the longest serving “We expect senior teaching staff to write 1972: East African Certificate of Education, E.A.C.E university staff and is and submit proposals that attract external Chebuyusi Secondary School funding.” 1969: Completed Primary School. Navakholo Primary a sign of confidence in Such developments in research, he said, School are a clear indication that the university has him RESPONSIBILITIES come a long way. May 2008 – present: Vice-Chancellor, Mount Kenya Uni- ice-Chancellor Prof Stanley W. “I joined the university in May 2008 after versity Waudo’s term has been extended it had received a Letter of Interim Authority September 2007 – March 2008: Strategic Leader for Pure by three years. In June, the Univer- from the then Commission for Higher Edu- and Applied Sciences Rapid Results Initiative, Kenyatta University sity’s Board of Directors extended cation which later became the Commission theV long-serving VC’s term in appreciation for University Education. We started with 2006 – 2008: Chairman of Curriculum Committee, Depart- of his leadership. Their decision was a seal one academic programme. ment of Plant and Microbial Sciences, Kenyatta University of approval of his performance. “The next thing was to make sure we The MKU founding VC has already served become a chartered university. We needed 2006 – 2008: Head of Plant Pathology Section, Department the institution for eight years. academic resources. We needed to develop of Plant and Microbial Sciences, Kenyatta University programmes. We needed to collaborate As Prof Waudo himself says, he would 2006 – 2008: Chairman of Appraisal and Promotions with like-minded institutions.” have stepped down had he felt he was not Committee, Department of Plant and Microbial Sciences, delivering. These efforts bore fruit. The university Kenyatta University 2003 – “The VC’s job is a calling,” he said in an was granted the University Charter by the interview. His Excellency Mwai Kibaki, the third Pres- “Why should I hang around this office ident of the Republic of Kenya on January 26, 2011 in accordance with the Universities if I am not the right person for the job?” Prof Stanley W. Waudo, Ph.D Staff testimonial he posed. “Even the university would not Act Cap 210B. want to retain a VC who is not delivering. I convinced that he had a good vision.” “From then on, we strived to become an would say that we have done well as a team. He left KU where he was the Director of internationally renown, quality-driven uni- When I joined Mount I attribute our success and my longevity at the Institute of Open Learning to take up versity by adhering to best practices. Kenya University I had MKU to the existence of a clear governance the new challenge. “We therefore sought ISO 9001:2008 no doubt in my mind structure. The Board of Directors, the Uni- A plant nematologist, he had also served certification. We received it in December that I had made the versity Council, the Senate and the Board as the Dean of the Faculty of Science. When 2012,” recalls the DVC. right decision. This is of Management understand their roles and the institute became the School of Pure and MKU was making real progress. what I always wanted to read from the same script. I have enjoyed Applied Sciences, he served as its first dean. “We then asked ourselves: how do we be; a university lecturer. my stay and am happy to continue to serve He had a stint as Director, Board of Post- sustain operations in line with the quality Mount Kenya University as Vice-Chancellor.” graduate Studies. On different occasions, management system? gave me the chance of a Prof Waudo was plucked from Kenyatta he was called upon to serve as Acting DVC. “We had to make sure we had highly lifetime, something I will University where he had served in various Prof Waudo has not looked back since qualified staff teaching accredited and in- always be grateful for. At senior management positions and tasked he accepted the enormous task of building, ternationally recognised programmes,” says Mount Kenya University, one is given an opportu- with the job of nurturing a young institu- MKU from the ground up. Prof Waudo. nity to put into practice tion into an academic giant. “There is an overlap between the uni- As the institution grew, it was able to the theory learnt in class He did not disappoint. The don brought versity’s vision and mission,” he says. “But attract senior lecturers from other universi- under the guidance and to MKU a wealth of experience relevant the overarching concern was to implement ties. “Remember that we had to keep add- Kariuki Nderitu mentorship of very good to university administration, teaching, re- the MKU mission to develop excellence in ing to our faculty as we introduced more Director, school-based and experienced faculty search and above all, mentoring. teaching, research and community service. programmes,” noted the VC. programmes, members. One grows He recalls that when MKU founder and “I am proud that young as we are as a After rapid expansion over the last eight Mount Kenya University from a mentee to a men- Chairman Dr Simon Gicharu made him the years, the university is, as Prof Waudo re- university, we have made tremendous tor to help others move offer to head the university as chief execu- ports, at a juncture where it has to consoli- strides in interacting with the community up the academic ladder. tive, he was reluctant. date the gains made. “To move forward, we inside and outside the university. We have At Mount Kenya University, I have been able to visit “I remember he gave me a letter of em- established a good research centre and run have taken a critical look at MKU’s achieve- ments and developed a strategic plan that places I would probably never have visited albeit on offi- ployment when the university had not been the Vice Chancellor’s grant for research.” cial duties. When I flew in an airplane for the first time, it granted a Letter of Interim Authority. What MKU established the grant in 2010, just will serve as our roadmap to the future. “My working experience at MKU was Mount Kenya University that made it possible, thanks was to become MKU was then operating as two years after it began operations as a uni- to the Board of Directors chairman Dr. Simon Gicharu the Thika Institute of Technology which was versity. The initial amount set aside for this has made me feel more Kenyan. who organised and sponsored the flight. It was exciting. only offering diploma courses.” purpose was KSh12 million. By 2013 the This has taught me that every quali- My challenge is to come up with an innovative idea that He initially declined the offer. But one figure had doubled to KSh24m. This year fied Kenyan – irrespective of where will make my employer proud of me. That I am still work- day he visited the fledgling institution of it has grown to KSh40m and is projected one hails from – can work anywhere ing on. higher learning and Dr Gicharu took him to increase to KSh50m in 2017/2018 aca- in Kenya.” — Prof Stanley W Waudo, Honestly l have been to places that I am not sure I would to the health science laboratories. demic year. VC, MKU. have been to if it were not for MKU. Kigali, Kampala among “What I saw impressed me,” he says. “I “Our interest is to support members of others. Many more places are coming soon. MKU is a great saw that the young man was serious. I was faculty keen on research,” says Prof Waudo, place to work in.

20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scalis altitudines educationis MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY | 1996 - 2016 | 19

International Outlook

Varsity’s E-Repository MKU offers foreign students among the top top-notch support services in the world

“My life dream was to never study at my local A recent ranking of world universities by renown Webo- primary school, local secondary school and metrics placed the MKU digital collection of academic local university and work within my locality thinking that the world revolves around my scholarly articles among the top in the world. This is the village,” says Vivianne Dewayne. “I had to most recent strategy by the varsity to enhance knowledge look outside the box and spread my tentacles. dissemination. That is the opportunity Mount Kenya Univer- The University has also been ranked as number 1 most sity offered me.” visited private university website in Kenya and position 3 At the beginning, MKU had students overall by Alexa.com drawn from Kenya. Over time, it attracted international students and therein lay an op- Another survey of world universities placed MKU at portunity: excelling in making memorable number 7 out of 44 Kenyan universities. The ranking was hospitality arrangements for them. conducted by 14CU dubbed “the Gateway to Universities “We had a few students from outside Kenya and Colleges” based on web rankings. but their numbers started to grow,” says Mr “Our concerted efforts at improving access to e-learn- Robert Munyasia, MKU International Stu- dents Coordinator. “We realised that we ing and sharing academic information through elec- tronic formats are continuously bearing fruit,” said MKU needed to establish an office to take care of International students them even before they arrived in the country Vice-Chancellor Prof. Stanley Waudo. “This impressive and when they have entered its borders. The programmes they wish to apply for. The office After they arrive, the ISC office assists stu- ranking accentuates our other successes on the ICT ISC office was created. equates their certificates with those offered dents to comply with immigration require- front.” “By 2014, we had about 50 international under the Kenyan education system. They are ments. Largely, this is to help them acquire Contribution by staff, student and university toward students. Now we have more than 300.” informed about the requirements of the pro- a student pass that is mandatory. “They can our knowledge database can be accessed through https:// ISC handles issues of non-Kenyan students grammes they desire. then proceed to pursue their studies without who include citizens of the East African Com- After they have been admitted, the next task any hassles,” Mr Munyasia notes. erepository.mku.ac.ke , the digital repository has close to munity states including . Others is to arrange how they can be picked once they He added that his office’s other responsi- 4000 academic materials. come from Nigeria, , Korea, Malay- land in Kenya and taken to the university. bility is coordinate how the students live in Last year, MKU scooped four awards during the cov- sia, Comoros, Somalia, , the Demo- They can be picked from the airport or border the country. This is important because most eted Information and Communications Technology As- cratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville points depending on how they have traveled international students stay in Kenya when the sociation of Kenya (ICTAK) Awards. These were; Overall and , among others. into the country. university closes a semester. In particular, the Mr Munyasia says the international stu- Currently, Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and office has to arrange how their health needs Winner-ICT Value Award, Best use of ICT in Education, dents are helped before they enter Kenya by Eldoret are the MKU campuses with foreign will be met. Excellence in use of ICT in Education and Best Innova- being advised on whether they qualify for the students. tion Award

Unique botanical garden MKU Digital Varsity’s appeal: Flexible, Convenient “Anytime, Anywhere” studying attracts global review Continued from page...10 staff. This has upgraded the level of cus- students take their exams online. This tomer and online students support. will be a huge improvement over the The Mount Kenya University emphasis on those with medic- to graduation. The Digital Varsity has positioned itself current arrangement, whereby Diaspora Botanical Garden has received inal properties. The researchers Today, MKU serves students from more as a centre of excellence and the preferred students sit for exams in Kenyan embas- international recognition. This documented a total of 248 plant than 21 countries including US, United centre of choice in promoting educa- sies abroad. There are also plans to make is through the publication of a species belonging to 60 plant Kingdom, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Nige- tional opportunity by providing quality the call centre available 24 hours a day. peer reviewed research article in families, highlighting the rich ria, Cameroon, Seychelles, Angola, UAE higher education, training and profes- For now though, Kenyans who live and Oman. the latest edition (June 2016) biodiversity of the garden. The sional development to meet the learning outside the country but desire to learn The Digital Varsity has established net- of the prestigious International research also established that needs of society. at MKU are assured of gaining access to works with alumni who have acquired Digital Learning is borne out of rec- education. They learn and do continu- Journal of Biodiversity and Con- 90 per cent of the plants were their qualifications through the online servation. indigenous, and 44 per cent had ognition that learning is moving out of ous assessment tests (CATs) online, but system. the classroom and into the learner’s en- sit their exams at Kenyan embassies and The article, titled, “Assessment medicinal properties. The Digital Varsity is well equipped vironment, hence virtual technology is high commissions, wherever they are. of diversity and conservation The researchers established and has the necessary capacity to cater central to this inevitable and indispen- For their graduation, they have to status of plants at Mount Kenya that the MKU botanical garden for the academic needs of both local, sable transformation. It is embedded on travel back to the country. Everything University Medicinal Botani- had two species of plants that ex- regional and international students at the philosophy of education anywhere, else, including registration, is done from cal Garden, Thika sub-County, isted only within it. This elevates the global scene, thanks to information anytime, at your own schedule and place. where they live. Kiambu County, Kenya”, is as the botanical garden to a privi- Communication Technology, powerful The Digital Varsity therefore seeks to The university’s digital learning man- a result of an intensive three- leged position as a sanctuary for Enterprise Resource Planning System provide learning opportunities to stu- agement system has given virtual stu- (ERP), Students Management informa- year joint research between the these special plants that are in dents who are unable to take up full-time dents and online lecturers and professors tion System (SMIS) integrated with a School of Pharmacy and the danger of becoming extinct. on campus programmes. a new interactive and support frame- scalable learning management system The Digital school provides a wide work. It enables the students to access MKU Directorate of Research, The two plant species, which (DLMS) and a capable human resource Grants and Endowments. have not been seen anywhere range of quality programmes at cer- their lecturers and resources, including that ensures both the administrative and tificate, Diploma, Undergraduate and CATs and assignments, and e-learning The research aimed at estab- else in world, need to be pro- academic needs of students are promptly Post-graduate levels. The convenience material and library online. The system lishing the degree of diversity tected at all costs. One of them addressed. that the university offers learners is set allows students to evaluate their lecturers of the plants at the MKU Bo- is the subject of a PhD thesis of The customer relations system is em- for enhancement. on trimester basis as part of enhancing tanical Garden, laying special one of the researchers. bedded in the digital varsity call centre, The university plans to have Diaspora quality in learning. which is managed by able customer care 20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Scaling the heights of education 20 | 1996 - 2016 | MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY Many reasons explain various world phenomena But there are 20 reasons why MKU is a preferred destination for students

1. Accreditation: Accredited by the Commission for Uni- demic and social trips. versity Education, Kenya. 12. Academic exchanges: Students’ benefit from aca- 2. International recognition: The University is fully char- demic exchanges with foreign and local institutions A panoramic view of the tered, and is ISO 9001:2008 certified, meaning that it of higher learning. Chancelor’s Tower at the MKU is committed on compliance with international stand- 13. Career placement: The University produces highly Main Campus in Thika ards on quality. skilled graduates who are employable. Others go into 3. Convenient fees payment mode: Affordable and flex- self-employment and create jobs. ible fees payment in easy percentage instalments of 14. Multicultural diversity: The University 30:30:20:20. recognises the diversity of its stu- 4. Accessible campuses: Students have a choice to dent population and develops tal- study from any of its accredited campuses in Kenya ents through organising of cultural and other countries, hence increased access to and events. There is unity in diversity. equity in university education. 15. Community Service/Engagements: 5. Digital window: Wi-Fi internet access across all the Mount Kenya University is commit- campuses. ted to carrying out corporate social 6. Superb staff: Qualified and committed teaching and responsibility based activities that non-teaching staff. add value to the community we 7. Academic resources: Well-equipped Science and IT live in. laboratories, Library and other academic resources. 16. E-Reading facilities: Use of ICT and 8. Flexible study options: Flexible modes of learning, other technologies, such as kindles. which include fulltime, digital learning, school-based, 17. Research and Development: We part-time (evening and weekends). create innovators and support 9. Course completion time: Students are able to com- them to commercialise innovations plete their course within the stipulated time. Students’ and inventions. academic progress is monitored and evaluated on a 18. Academic Character: Mount Kenya continuous basis. University offers an all-rounded ed- 10. Student welfare support: For the convenience of the ucation, including moral and pro- students, the University has in place accommodation fessional education to all persons facilities and a student centre that houses a restaurant irrespective of religion, race, gen- serving international cuisine. The university also has a der, political affiliation, social or cul- gym and a salon/barber shop. There are also shops for tural background. the basic needs of students, laundry and dry cleaning 19. Transition rate: Students progress services. from one level to another at a very The integrated sick bay offers basic health services and high rate, which is an indicator of ensures a healthy environment for the University com- satisfaction. munity. 20 Security: Enhanced security in the The sporting and recreation activities at the university vary University and within its environs and include rugby, football, tennis, volley ball, athlet- through 24-hour CCTV camera sur- ics, swimming and others such as drama. veillance and night patrols by secu- 11. Academic/Social trips: The University has in place a rity agencies. fleet of buses. Transport is always available for aca-

For more information please contact us at: Tel: +254 067 2820 000 Mount Kenya University Rwanda Facebook: Mount Kenya University Main Campus: Cell: 0720 790796/ P.O. Box 5826, Kigali Twitter: @MountKenyaUni General Kago Rd. Fax: +254 202050315 Tel: +250 783106483 YouTube: Mount Kenya Uni P.O. Box 342-01000, Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Instagram: Mount Kenya University Thika Website: www.mku.ac.ke Website: www.mku.ac.ke WhatsApp: 0722 999 399 20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS Copyright©MKU 2016