Former students of Mount Kenya University (MKU) can now sigh with relief after the management waived fee debts amounting to the tune of Ksh82 million.
The Chairman Board of Directors, Prof Simon Gicharu, instructed the university to release certificates to the previous graduates who were unable to clear their fee balances.
Gicharu spoke during the 25th graduation ceremony at the Thika main campus on Friday, August 2, where some 8,000 graduands were conferred with various degrees and others awarded diplomas and certificates.
“Allow me to look back at our previous graduates who were unable to collect their Certificate due to varied reasons, the main one being non-completion of fees at the graduation time. I direct the University to release the Certificates unconditionally to all those affected by fee balance,” Prof Gicharu said.
Prof Gicharu said that the beneficiaries who will wish to repay once they secure jobs will play a pivotal role in educating underprivileged students as the money will be directed to the Chancellors Scholarships that supports needy but bright students.
“Any collections from those accounts in case the beneficiaries after securing jobs feel indebted to clear the fees should go in support of Chancellor’s Scholarship. This gesture should also incorporate the previous graduates of our university in Rwanda,” the Chairman said.
At the same time, the chairman announced that the university will from next year start a Bachelor of Nautical Sciences course to train ship captains and officers at the Malindi campus.
“Other notable employment-generating initiatives include the establishment of the Malindi Maritime Academy at our Malindi campus, which will offer Standards of Training, Certification, and Watch keeping (STCW) Basic and Advanced training for the first time in this region,” he said.
Prof Gicharu noted that previously, Kenyan students pursuing the maritime courses had to travel to Korea and other Asian countries for the mandatory courses to join the merchant navy, cruise ships, and other vessels.
He also divulged that MKU is encouraging young people to seek opportunities beyond the boundaries and has already made arrangements for 15 students to train as medical apprentices in Germany.
“We are delighted to acknowledge our collaboration with Austrian health authorities and Lebenshilfe Tirol, which will integrate 40 trained MKU nurses annually into Austrian hospitals and elderly care homes,” he noted.
The Chairman added, “Our first two candidates are set to depart in October. Additionally, over 15 candidates are completing their German language training and will join them shortly.”
Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala, who was the chief guest, said the government is partnering with institutions of higher learning to create jobs abroad.
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The PS also called on Kenyan universities to focus on research, science, technology and innovation so as to steer the country’s socio-economic growth.
“As government, we are working closely with a wide spectrum of stakeholders in the Research, Science, Technology and Innovation ecosystem to catalyze progress towards attainment of the targets set out in our Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda around: Healthcare; Agriculture; Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs); Housing and Settlement; and, the Digital Superhighway and Creative Economy,” she said.
Dr Inyangala said that the government is committed to provide a conducive policy environment in support of higher learning institutions so as to promote research and innovation, which she said will have an overall multiplier effect on enhanced livelihood for Kenyans.
“I wish to reaffirm the Ministry’s unreserved commitment to provide a conducive policy environment for support of research, patents promotion, as well as scaling of innovations and their commercialization,” she said.
By Kamau Njoroge
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