By James Wakahiu
Mount Kenya University (MKU) has openned a staff cafeteria and fitness centre in the main campus in Thika town and is planning to construct a similar facility at its Kigali campus in Rwanda.
Vice chancellor Prof Deogratius Jaganyi termed the facility as first class, with state-of-the art equipment and encouraged his staff to make maximum use of the facility.
“Our chairman, Prof Simon Gicharu had observed that our staff have been using exercise facilities which are not quite up to standard,” he said.
Launching the facility, Gicharu said the university’s staff health insurance provider can lower related insurance premiums if the university workers take to serious exercise at the gym.
“Exercise is the best medicine especially at this time of the Covid-19 pandemic. This facility is a comfort gym for our staff members,” he said.
Gicharu added that the facility was another milestone and a big achievement at MKU.
He added that from now henceforth, MKU will be counted amongst the few universities in the country that have a state-of-the-art Senior Common Room.
“Our students are equally supported through various recreational facilities in MKU campuses that host a number of sporting activities,” Gicharu said.
The chairman said the idea and initial plan of the gym and restaurant was the brainchild of Dr Peter Kirira, formerly the Director of the MKU Foundation.
“The Dean of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management Jane Kanjuru designed and ensured we have a top-notch staff cafeteria,” he added.
He thanked MKU chairman Gicharu for investing in staff welfare and said a similar facility is now in the planning stage for the MKU Kigali campus in Rwanda.
“In our current strategic plan, we have called for excellence in delivery of programmes, which include hospitality projects. This facility is also a new platform for training of our students,” the VC added.
Gicharu added that physical activity for about two to three hours duration twice per week or one hour per day improves both physical and mental health.
“The two facilities we are launching will bring the staff together, enhance their socializing and assist in developing a strong bond,” he said.
Also under construction is a Convention Centre in Thika campus that will be among the modern academic resources facilities needed to support practical training.
They will also be used for internship opportunities for students in the School of Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Management. Some of the courses will include Golf residence in Mombasa County to support the School of Hospitality , Travel and Tourism Management, TV47 (Kenya) and Royal FM radio (Rwanda) that supports practical and professional journalism training and internship opportunities to the students and alumni.
Not surprisingly, MKU students were among the 750 young entrepreneurs who have been selected under the MbeleNaBiz Competition for over Sh4 million grants and capital funding to help them start small and medium enterprises.
The MbeleNaBiz Competition which was organised by the Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs under the Kenya Youth Enterprise and Opportunities Project seeks to help youth-run enterprises expand their solutions.
Mwanza Christopher Arunga, a Bachelor of Education (Arts) student won Sh3.6 million for animal feeds processing plant in Kakamega County while Kang’ethe Sylvia Wanjiku, a procurement student at the university, won Sh900, 000 for chocolate making business in Muranga County.
Prof Jaganyi challenged university students and graduates to be more innovative, saying there are several opportunities which they can explore to create jobs instead of just waiting to be employed when job opportunities have shrunk.
“There are also several institutions that are willing to help the young people incubate their innovative ideas and even help them realize them,” he said.
