KAKAMEGA, July 4 -President Mwai Kibaki was on Friday honoured by Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology for his academic achievements, distinguished services and resolve to re-engineer Kenya’s economy and society.
Reading the citation during the conferment of the honorary Degree of Doctor of Science on President Kibaki by the university, Masinde Muliro University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barasa Wangila said as a leader, the President was not only recognized as the President of Kenya but also as a person with international repute.
"The professional life of President Kibaki which includes a distinguished scholar, a seasoned and polished politician, brings at the helm of Kenya’s political leadership a rich treasure of its own kind," Prof. Wangila said.
The Vice-Chancellor made the remarks at the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology’s inauguration and first graduation ceremony which was presided over by the President.
During the occasion, President Kibaki was also installed as the Chancellor of the university.
Addressing the congregation, the Head of State urged institutions of higher learning to play a leading role in propagating national unity and curbing negative ethnicity.
President Kibaki said issues of ethnicity should never be found among national institutions such as universities which are symbols of the country’s nationhood, unity and strength.
In this regard, the President commended the university council, management, staff and students of Masinde Muliro University for their remarkable sense of discipline as well as for being focused on their core mandate which enabled the university to remain peaceful and harmonious during the politically instigated violence earlier this year.
"I urge the university community to uphold this spirit so as to avoid disruption of the university’s academic programmes," the Head of State said.
Once again, President Kibaki called on Kenyans not to be discouraged but learn from the temporary disruption caused by the post-election violence.
He expressed optimism that since the country’s political leadership is united in developing the nation, the country’s economy will resume its rapid growth for the benefit of wananchi.
The President, at the same time, emphasized that for institutions of learning to discharge their mandate effectively, managers of the institutions must accord high priority to the quality of the courses they are offering.
President Kibaki reiterated that his Government continues to focus on education as a key priority in its national agenda, saying without adequate investments in education, Kenya will not have the critical mass of trained human capital to spearhead its development objectives.
He emphasised that the Government recognises that the Vision 2030 which is intended to transform the country into a middle-income economy requires a globally competitive and adaptive human resource base hence the increased investments in education.
The Head of State added that the Government is paying more attention to the teaching of science, technology and innovation courses in institutions of learning as this will make it possible to meet the needs of a rapidly industrializing country.
Said President Kibaki: "I am therefore glad to see that this university is focusing on science and technology programmes."
President Kibaki said he was also pleased to see that the University is offering courses in other disciplines that are equally relevant to the development needs of the country including programmes such as Sugar Technology, Business Management, Ethics and Corruption Studies, Conflict Resolution and Disaster Management which are expected to make a positive impact on the country and the entire African continent.
"This is because these programmes are focusing on areas that are relevant to our own development as well as the existing realities in the continent of Africa," President Kibaki said.
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