Retired president Mwai Kibaki has called upon Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) and its 2016 graduates to be at the forefront in spearheading the manufacturing of modern tools that will facilitate the production of goods for both the national and international markets.
Speaking during the 11th graduation ceremony held at the institute’s main campus in Kakamega where 3109 students graduated, Kibaki who is also the chancellor, said that education purposes to empower the human mind to equip him or her to tackle life challenges.
He challenged the graduates to use the knowledge attained to change the economy of the world positively.
Kibaki further appealed to the graduates to be goodwill ambassadors of the university wherever they go through their attitude and behaviour. He encouraged the university management and staff to work as a team so as to offer a meaningful transition for the graduates.
He appreciated the current university’s leadership led by the vice chancellor for maintaining focus on the ideals of the university and working extremely hard to secure accreditation for various courses especially engineering courses.
Kakamega county deputy governor Philip Kutima called upon MMUST graduates to consider furthering their studies. Pointing out that education is key to success, Kutima said that the county government now offers loans to needy students and thus one should not have an excuse of downing their pens.
He said that the county lacks enough professionals especially in technical courses among them medicine and engineering and encouraged all present to start specializing.
MMUST Vice chancellor Fred Otieno revealed that the university has been approved to offer all engineering programmes by the Engineering board of Kenya. The board had a few years ago rejected degrees from the university because the institute hadn’t met the board’s requirements to offer the program.
He revealed that they had done all they could to meet the requirements and are now in agreement with the board calling upon students to apply and enroll for the courses.
He added that the MMUST has opened the school of medicine and it will be admitting the first batch of students specializing in medicine during the 2017/2018 academic year.
He called upon well wishers to come in and support the school of medicine, adding that they are already having MOUs with a number of hospitals who will chip in during the training.
He further revealed that the institute now offers a variety of technical courses since it falls among the technical and vocational training institute calling upon interested people to enroll so as to be equipped with various techniques.
The cabinet secretary of education Fred Matiang’i was represented by Denis Watene from the State department of Higher education, who called upon the institute to strengthen courses within their niche among them nursing.
He also urged the university to improve infrastructure in e-learning so as to give an opportunity to most Kenyans to access quality education wherever they are.
He said that the ministry will support needy cases in an effort to foster education.
Graduates were happy with the way the institute carried out the graduation exercise this year explaining that they had an ample time to clear with the university.
Also present was the member of assembly for Sikhendu Andrew Kutitila who called upon the national government to devolve more funds to upcoming universities so that they can give an opportunity to more students to study.
Kutitila congratulated Masinde Muliro university for expanding to Narok county and called upon the national government to fund it further so that it gets a branch in Trans Nzoia county which is desperately in need of higher learning institutes.
He further urged parents to invest in educating their children saying that it is the key to a bright future.
Beldina Otieno a doctorate graduate in peace and conflict resolution who is also the chief officer of sports youths and culture at the county government of Kakamega said that learning at the institute was quite enjoyable that she found it easy to balance between class and work.
