A total of 98 students of the Kitui Catholic Diocese’s Saint John Paul II Institute graduated during the institution’s third graduation ceremony on Friday, November 7, 2025.
The event, featuring Nairobi University lecturers Dr Cather and Drine Amulundu as the chief guests, was attended by thousands of people.
Addressing the function, the learning institution’s Director, Father Robert Mutui, disclosed that the institution has a total of 300 students, 25 teaching staff members and eight non-teaching staff members.
“We are today conferring diplomas and awarding certificates to our graduands. I wish to congratulate our students for their hard work. Finally, I encourage the graduands to continue learning after today’s graduation. Thank you,” Mutui said.
And for his part, the Kitui Catholic Diocesan Bishop, the Right Reverend Joseph Mutisya Mwongela, talked about integrity and ethics.
The prelate asked the Kenyan children and the Kenyans in general not to gamble with their education. “If we gamble with the education, we will be in trouble,” he said.
Mwongela decried the rate at which corruption had ruined Kenya. And he asked the Kenyan county and national governments to employ Kenyan children when job opportunities are available in the country.
“The Kenyan children are educated, and we are asking the government to employ them when the vacancies are available instead of employing them through corrupt means,” he said.
The Kitui Catholic Diocese’s Bishop asked Kenyan political leaders to serve Kenyans’ developmental needs instead of politics.
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And addressing the occasion, Dr Catherine Amulundu, the event’s chief guest, said: “I am greatly pleased to be here this afternoon as the chief guest.”
She told the graduands: “I had a thirst for education. And I decided to learn. I am a lecturer at the University of Nairobi. I teach the doctors at the university.” She is a medical doctor by profession.
The chief guest highly congratulated the Saint John Paul II Institute’s students, tutors and the management team for their commendable work. “We need to applaud the John Paul II Institute. This institute is giving all the directions for the skills,” she said. “Make use of these skills,” she told the institute’s students.
Really, I want to tell you that the studies are a very good thing, she added. The doctor talked about innovation and entrepreneurship.
Amulundu talked about the heinous level of corruption in Kenya. “Some 80 per cent of the Kenyans are Christians, but over 90 per cent of them (the Christians) are corrupt,” she regretted.
The Saint John Paul II Institute’s Manager, Lawrence Mutua, also addressed the function, where he said: “We are happy as we celebrate you, the students. So call yourself the winner. We are the winners.”
A section of the graduands during the Saint John Paul II Institute’s third graduation ceremony in Kitui.
We appreciate you, the students and the trainers. You have done an excellent job. Feel appreciated. Today, we are here celebrating the joy. You being counted among the names of Saint John Paul II is a blessing, Mutua added.
The institution’s Board of Management Chairman, Samuel Ikima, and the Kitui Catholic Diocesan Education Secretary, Father Antony Muema, also addressed the event.
A Kitui County Public Service Board official, Dr David Munyao, who was representing the Kitui County Governor, Dr Julius Makau Malombe, also addressed the event, among others.
The Saint John Paul II Institute offers accountancy, sales and marketing, human resource management, secretarial studies, business management, plumbing, information and communication technology, motor-vehicle mechanics, automotive engineering, hairdressing, beauty therapy, motor-vehicle electrical, welding and fabrication, and social work and community development courses, among other disciplines.
By Boniface Mulu
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