The University of Embu has received a prestigious award after it emerged as one of the few national institutions practising fairness in gender parity and employment, ensuring ethnicity does not dominate its management policies.
Audits among leading public national universities have in the past singled out some institutions in various counties for ethnic bias in employment and the awarding of business contracts, amid increasing demands by Kenyans for fairness.
The university, courtesy of that feat, has been celebrated for championing diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainable practices in its management policies under the National Diversity and Inclusion Awards & Recognition (DIAR Awards).
The award was presented recently at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi and was received by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (PAF), Prof. Eucharia Kenya, who represented the Vice-Chancellor.
The university was named a DIAR Top 10 Organisation (Taifa Laureate) in recognition of its leadership in inclusion, equity, impact, and sustainability, as well as its commitment to excellence and strong governance.
The organisers highlighted UoE’s role as a leading centre of academic excellence and social transformation, which has shaped the institution’s diverse academic programmes, innovation in research, and community outreach.
It was indicated that a combination of these progressive policies has advanced knowledge, empowered communities, and supported national development. The university was singled out as a frontrunner in mainstreaming diversity, equity, sustainability, and inclusion in higher education.
Further, the institution was commended for promoting accessible learning environments, supportive student services, fair employment practices, and policies that enhance participation for persons with disabilities.
Gender equality at the university, it emerged, remains a priority, with concerted efforts to improve gender balance across leadership, academics, and institutional programmes consistently at the forefront.
The awardees indicated that UoEm’s student body and workforce mirror Kenya’s ethnic diversity, fostering mutual respect, national cohesion, and equal opportunity through transparent recruitment and merit-based admissions.
It was noted that UoE’s positive, proactive policies have led to the unification of diverse, inclusive teams that drive research, innovation, social responsibility, and sustainable practices.
In appreciating the award, the University Council, led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Daniel Mugendi Njiru, said the institution has continued to model how higher education institutions can build socially cohesive and sustainable organisations.
He noted that the award is a significant milestone for the university, which has, in recent times, received numerous accolades and recognition for outstanding performance in all spheres of its operations.
Prof. Mugendi further applauded the organisers for recognising UoEm’s commitment to excellence and its transformative impact in society, and stressed the university’s strong focus on equity, environmental conservation, climate action, social inclusion, and good governance as areas of pride for the UoEm community.
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The Vice-Chancellor went ahead to dedicate the award to staff, students, and stakeholders for their dedication and commitment to quality and excellence, which made the university achieve the feat of emerging among the best.
By Robert Nyagah
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