The Mountain Journal
By James Wakahiu
Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of the National Government, Dr. Fred Matiang’i has congratulated Mount Kenya University for joining the ranks of the global communities who have put up convention centers as facilities to nurture common feelings of unity, sharing, and togetherness as a public good.
Speaking at MKU Main Campus in Thika of Kiambu County where he formally opened and dedicated Mwai Kibaki Convention Centre, Dr. Matiang’i said that a present day convention center like the one he had commissioned could be seen to serve as what in the traditional African communities was called village arenas and some communities even called them communal shrines.
“While an arena is a public space used for meetings as well as for sharing of vital experiences, shrines tend to be places of prayers and spiritual communion. We are here today for interdenominational prayers. We have just had prayers here. So why would we not consider this facility as a shrine in addition to being an arena? A cultural arena attracts people from far and wide to converge there for different reasons that will always lead to enhancement of unity and cohesion within the community,” said the minister.
He added, “Indeed, I have been informed that this facility is open to the public. In this case, I urge Kenyans from far and wide to take advantage of this facility. May it serve as a cultural arena or a cultural shrine for enhancing peace in the community through the prayers to be offered in here as well as the peace conventions to take place in here for the good of the entire country. More specifically, as we get closer to the national elections, let us all retreat to this facility to seek peaceful engagements with each other. Indeed, I have been informed that MKU will be hosting a pre-national general elections peace conference here next year a few weeks to the general elections. I urge many other groups to use this facility as it is available for public use to discuss peace agenda, and pray for peace and unity.”
Dr. Matiang’i shared with the attendants the wise counsel that was pronounced by the 3rd President of the Republic of Kenya, H. E. Mwai Kibaki on 24th January 2012, in his acceptance speech at Makerere University when he received an honorary doctorate degree.
Kibaki urged African Universities and young generations in the African continent to have a commitment to the welfare of their countries and communities. He said that the challenges that are faced in Africa, will require a combination of homegrown and borrowed ideas to solve. In this way, I have been informed that the Mwai Kibaki Convention Center which we are commissioning today has already hosted an international conference on Entrepreneurial Universities of Africa. Additionally, effective this evening on 4th November 2021, all the way to 6th November 2021, as well as from 6th November to 10th November 2021, this facility will host the International YUNUS Social Business Academic Conference and the International YUNUS Social Business Summit respectively with an expected virtual attendance of over 1000 delegates from across the world. We are all aware of the need to create more and more job opportunities in our communities across the continent. I, therefore, feel happy that the conferences already being hosted here have focused on blending locally homegrown ideas with borrowed ideas and in the words of Mwai Kibaki in 2012, this will go a long way towards creating jobs for our youth and wealth for the communities,” noted the CS.
While noting the universities’ contribution to the social economic development of a country, there was also the need to note the ongoing Public – Private Partnerships between Mount Kenya University and various County Governments across the country.
“For instance, the collaboration between MKU and Murang’a County Government on land dispute settlements among the members of the local community and the use of Alternative Disputes Resolution or ADR. This activity is already ongoing across all sub-counties of Murang’a County supported by over 30 MKU Law students and their staff and is a good example that needs to be emulated by other universities in other counties.
Additionally, the construction of the Thika Level 5 Hospital’s General Kago Funeral Home by MKU, which was upgraded from a 40 bodies capacity to a 100 bodies capacity is also another community engagement by MKU which has a tremendous impact,”Dr. Matiang’i said.
Dr. Matiang’i said it was gratifying to note the growth attained by MKU within ten years since it became a fully chartered University. Currently, the University has over 40,000 government and self-sponsored students across its campuses with a graduation output of over 10,000 students annually. “This has come along without compromising on the quality as we note that in 2020, the report from the East Africa Medical and Dental Practitioners Board ranked Mount Kenya University Medical School as the best Medical School in the country,” Dr Matiang’i said.
“To this end, we are happy to note that, following the promulgation of the New Constitution by the 3rd President of Kenya on 27th August 2010, the Government of Kenya has progressively created a very enabling environment that supports students to enroll in both private and public universities. This is quite important because all the graduates from all universities will serve the Kenya community upon graduation. Hence, they have a right to equal support by the government,” stated the CS.
He expressed satisfaction by the University steady rise of postgraduate student enrolment to the current number of over 7,500: over 70 PhDs have been awarded at MKU to date; the fast risen active research grant portfolio by MKU to a tune of about 1.1 billion Kenyan Shillings; the University’s commitment to environmental conservation by planting 10,000 trees this year at the Botanic Garden in Happy Valley, Thika, the University intends to raise this number to 20,000 next year; the University is cognizant of the rising cost of electricity and has therefore embraced the use of renewable energy through the use of solar power; the rise in international collaborations including MKU serving as the global United Nations Academic Impact SDG 10 hub on Reduced Inequalities as well as the selection of MKU by the UNESCO Regional Office in Nairobi to participate in the UNESCO sponsored O3 PLUS project which is students’ empowerment project. The collaboration with the Kilimanjaro Blind Trust Association to support the blind students is one on the many collaborations that the University is engaged in for the benefit of both students and community in unlocking infinite possibilities.
In order to support this kind of a growth at our universities, the Government supports the ruling that mandates the Commission for University Education as the bonafide, single regulating agency for all universities in Kenya. In this way, universities will have adequate time to plan and execute their mandates in line with the CUE’s guidelines as the single regulating agency.
Reacting to a request by MKU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi, for beef up of security within the university and its surroundings, the minister ordered for the immediate establishment of a police post near the institution to serve in the neighbourhood.
Mount Kenya University pays special attention to safety and security issues both within the University and the neighborhood, the varsity Vice Chancellor has said.
Speaking during the official opening of the multi-million state of the art Mwai Kibaki Convention Centre at MKU Main Campus in Thika Town by Interior and National coordination Minister Dr. Fred Matiang’i , the VC said his University has invested heavily on biometric security enhancement and also has sent night patrols to all our neighborhood.
“We also very much appreciate the security support provided to us by the local security agents, '' said Prof. Jaganyi.
He added, “Unfortunately, there is one blackspot area within the neighborhood where we have recorded a very worrying crime rate, especially the mugging of residents. This is the point just in front of this Convention Centre. Our request Sir is that a police post be mounted in the said neighborhood for the security of residents who include our students”.
He said in addition, they have numerous international students at MKU. “Unfortunately, they all face challenges in delayed processing of passes, which take too long thus causing a lot of inconveniences to our international students”, the academician said. The VC requested the CS to intervene and resolve the delay.
Speaking during the occasion, MKU Co-Founder, Prof. Simon Nyutu Gicharu said that beyond the physical entity that is the Mwai Kibaki Convention Centre is a crucial reason for immortalizing a Kenyan who has made immeasurable contributions in what our country has turned out to be today. That he was the person to give Mount Kenya University its Charter back in the day as the Head of State is not the only highlight we celebrate today—and indeed always—as an institution but more so, for his cross-cutting policies that have radically transformed our education sector over the years.
He said societies that fail to celebrate and immortalize their heroes run the risk of condemning themselves to eternal worship of alien tin gods made in the image of revisionists of history. Within our own African folklore, we had Sundiata Keita of 13th century Mali, Kinjeketile Ngwale of pre-independent Tanganyika and closer home our own Fumo Liyongo, Wangu wa Makeri, Dedan Kimathi, Mekatilili wa Menza and Luanda Magere to mention but a few.
Prof. Gicharu said the core purpose of this 2,000 capacity Convention Centre is to support educational activities. In this regard, this facility is expected to host local, regional and international conferences, conventions and summits.
He said in addition, the facility will also be open for corporate events and meetings. Already, this Centre has been very busy. Since its completion, it has hosted the following international conferences; Talloires Network Leaders Conference 2021, the International Conference on Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa, and it is currently hosting the YUNUS Social Business Academia Conference. We also look forward to hosting drama & music festivals and even presidential debates in the near future.
He said the naming of the facility was actualised through a competition by students.
“The name Mwai Kibaki Convention Centre is in recognition of the third president of the republic of Kenya who is somewhat unrecognized in the naming of various landmarks in the country. Mwai Kibaki also conceived and brought to fruition Thika road which plays a major role to the university - for easier access-as well as the country at large. His administration also paved the way for opening up more private universities,” the students justified the name as such.
ABOUT MWAI KIBAKI CONVENTION CENTRE
Mwai Kibaki Convention Centre is an ultra-modern facility for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions. The Convention Centre is a unique breath-taking timeless dome-shaped ultra-modern architectural design that runs into a Three-Tier deck for holding 2000 participants .
The Centre is fully air-conditioned and utilizes the state-of-art facilities with the latest technology in audio-visual, live streaming, sound Proofed for 100% excellent echo-free communication. The tranquility of the Centre includes a top roof natural lighting, VIP Lounge, green field for team building events that guarantees comfort in conferencing.
The convention Centre is designed to host local and international Conferences, Seminars.
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