MKU set for the 19th graduation on Friday

Already, the learners are prepared  for the day as Ann Nyambura, and Grace Charles  have been part of those taking rehearsal lessons.

“In compliance with the COVID-19 containment and preventive measures and the guidelines by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health, the graduation ceremony will be held virtually on Friday, 6th August 2021 at 9.00 am,” Prof Struthers said in a statement.

The fete will be presided over by Prof. John Struthers who will award diplomas and certificates and confer degrees on qualified candidates.  The Chief Guest will be Prof Balunywa Waswa, Principal , Makerere Business school, Uganda.

The theme of the graduation ceremony is Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education. This comes after the United Nations Academic Impact has recognised MKU as the SDG 10 hub: Reduced inequalities.

Congratulating the graduates in advance,  Prof Struthers told all the graduates who have been successfully conferred degrees and awarded diploma and certificates during the past university graduation ceremonies to collect their certificates within a year after graduation to avoid paying a Sh1,200 per annum.

Last year, MKU and Strathmore were the first two private universities to fully comply with the Covid-19 protocols to allow re-opening following closure of learning in all institutions in the country in March 2020 after the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha said Strathmore University and MKU) had instituted necessary changes, re-engineered their physical spaces and adopted blended teaching to allow resumption of learning. The CS said the institutions have put in place mechanisms to allow social distancing, multiple hand washing and sanitisation points, enhanced screening and decongested open spaces.

Prof John Struthers said a partnership with Safaricom reduced internet connectivity costs for both staff and students.  The institution also partnered the tech firm Microsoft for e-learning software.  The university used Microsoft Teams application for online meetings, teaching and conducting examinations. 

In March this year, MKU released its first cohort of medical doctors since it was accredited to offer Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBchB) programme. Dr Eva Njenga, the chair of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), presided over the administration of Hippocratic Oath to the 29 medical doctors.

The medical doctors who successfully undertook the six-year training then proceeded to various hospitals for their 13-month internship. The university was accredited in 2014 to teach medicine.  It would later partner with Thika and Machakos Level 5 Hospitals and other health providers for practical training.

MKU is the first university founded by a private education entrepreneur to graduate medical students. Others who have had similar graduations are public universities and faith-based institutions.