- Nearly 3,000 new students have formally joined Turkana University College for the 2026/2027 academic year.
- Principal Prof George Chemining’wa challenged the fresh cohort to embrace academic excellence, discipline and innovation.
- The ceremony also celebrated students who secured three trophies at the 98th Kenya National Music Festival.
Turkana University College has welcomed about 3,000 new students into the 2026/2027 academic year, marking a major milestone for an institution positioning itself as a centre of academic excellence, innovation, talent development and community transformation.
The new students were formally admitted into the College during a colourful matriculation ceremony at the Main Campus, bringing to a close a busy orientation week that introduced the fresh cohort to university life, academic expectations and the responsibilities that come with being members of the institution.
The students reported on Monday, August 31, 2026, before participating in orientation activities from Wednesday. The matriculation ceremony, presided over by Principal Prof George Chemining’wa on Friday, September 4, formally ushered them into their new academic environment.
The event provided an opportunity for the College leadership to welcome the students while setting out the expectations and values that will guide them during their university journey.
Prof Chemining’wa challenged the new students to make academic excellence a priority and to approach their studies with discipline, determination and a willingness to innovate.
He urged them to view university education not merely as a pathway to obtaining certificates, but as an opportunity to acquire knowledge, develop practical skills, discover their talents and prepare themselves to contribute meaningfully to society.
The Principal also emphasised the importance of personal discipline, reminding the students that success at university requires responsibility, consistency and wise decision-making.
He encouraged them to take advantage of the academic and extracurricular opportunities available at the College while remaining focused on their long-term goals.
The institution’s leadership also placed strong emphasis on student wellbeing. Prof Chemining’wa urged the new students to take care of their physical and mental wellbeing and warned them against drug and substance abuse.
He reminded the students that decisions made during their university years can have lasting consequences, urging them to build friendships and habits that support their academic and personal development.
At the heart of the Principal’s address was the College’s broader ambition of becoming a globally esteemed university recognised for excellence in teaching, research and outreach.
The vision presents the institution as more than a place where students attend lectures and sit examinations. It reflects an ambition to create an environment where knowledge, innovation, research and community engagement reinforce one another.
For the new students, the matriculation ceremony therefore represented more than a formal welcome. It marked the beginning of an academic journey in which they are expected to become active participants in the development of the institution and the wider community.
Students celebrate music festival success
The ceremony also offered the College an opportunity to demonstrate that university education extends beyond the classroom.
Students from Turkana University College provided lively performances, adding colour and cultural richness to the event.
The performances came shortly after the institution’s students returned from an impressive outing at the 98th Kenya National Music Festival, where they secured three trophies in various competitive categories.
The achievement provided a moment of pride for the College and demonstrated the breadth of talent among its students.
The trophies were presented to Prof Chemining’wa during the matriculation ceremony, attracting warm applause from the audience.
The recognition was significant because it placed the students’ artistic achievements alongside the institution’s academic aspirations, reinforcing the message that universities have an important role to play in identifying, nurturing and showcasing diverse talents.
Students who participated in the Kenya National Music Festival were also presented with certificates of participation in recognition of their dedication, commitment and contribution to the College’s success.
Their achievement offered the new students an early example of the opportunities available to them outside formal classroom learning.
New cohort begins university journey
As the 2026/2027 cohort begins its studies, the College is seeking to cultivate a generation of graduates equipped not only with academic qualifications but also with discipline, creativity, confidence and a sense of responsibility.
The challenge now lies with the new students to translate the welcome and inspiration of their matriculation ceremony into sustained commitment throughout their university careers.
Their journey begins at a time when higher education institutions are increasingly expected to produce graduates capable of responding to changing labour markets, technological advances and complex social and economic challenges.
Prof Chemining’wa’s call for academic excellence and innovation therefore places a clear responsibility on the students to use their time at the College productively.
The matriculation ceremony closed with a message of welcome to the new cohort and a renewed commitment to building an institution where academic achievement, research, talent and responsible citizenship can thrive together.
For the approximately 3,000 students, the colourful ceremony was the beginning of a new chapter.
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They have now officially joined the Turkana University College community, with the institution challenging them to learn, innovate, remain disciplined and pursue excellence.
By Hillary Muhalya
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