Local Varsities Challenged to Embrace Technology.
President William Ruto has asked colleges and universities to invest much money into research and technology.
Dr. Ruto acknowledged that Kenyans live in a digital era that “demands we go to the depths of technology by employing scientific techniques, scholarly discipline, and modern technology and find answers to the hard questions of our time as well as develop appropriate solutions to the problems.”
Yesterday, at the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology graduation ceremony, the president challenged the university to help revive the Mumias Sugar Company.
He also requested that institutes of higher education in the region determine what is required to construct a gold refinery, exploit the region’s massive granite resources, and identify techniques for value addition.
President Ruto asked the university to collaborate with the government and utilize public-private partnerships to construct sufficient dormitories.
Musalia Mudavadi was awarded an honorary degree in recognition of his peacebuilding work.
Prof. Solomon Shibairo, the institution’s vice-chancellor, stated that Mudavadi was honored for his tremendous contributions to peace and sustainable development and his personal and public service achievements.
Shibairo remarked, “In his immense accomplishments in peace and sustainable development, Mudavadi has tangible achievements as a person and as a public officer and he has shown exemplary service to humanity and also he has been involved in extensive benevolence and charitable work.”
“The pinnacle of his peace-making effort was demonstrated when he was named as the team leader of ODM side in the Koffi Annan mediation team during the 2007/2008 post-election violence in Kenya.
"Because of his peaceful disposition and commitment to end the mayhem, he was able to successfully mediate between his Kenyan counterparts and contributed immensely to the end of the 2007/2008 post-election violence.” read the citation in part.
In his acceptance address, Mudavadi thanked the university administration for the honor and dedicated the degree to those who have supported him and his efforts over the years and to those who have been hurt in the struggle for peace in the country.
“In many ways, this honor reflects the efforts of the Kenyan people of all walks of life who have worked together for the last 59 years to restore peace, security, national unity, and reconciliation. In their endeavors, these Kenyans have managed to overcome serious adversity to usher in our nation’s collective aspirations for unity and sustainable development,” said Mudavadi.“
"It is with deep humility that I accept the great honor, the Doctor of Honoris Causa, an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in Peace and Sustainable Development from a university named after one of the greatest nationalists of this country, the late Masinde Muliro,” he added.
Mudavadi also committed to living up to the honor’s goals and standards, stating that it has always been his inspiration to uphold the ideals of the “founding fathers of our nation, Kenya, since independence.”
He said that Kenya has had times of peace and made reforms that have sped up the country’s development to a greater degree of recognition.
However, crises and upheavals have sometimes accompanied the levels of development.
Mudavadi has called for statesmanship and good governance while stressing the need for peace as the country goes through tough economic times caused by the previous regime’s poor management of public resources, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the huge public debt that has strangled Kenya’s economic stability.
“To manage and influence our people in a collectively beneficial manner, we need a long-term vision. Each of us as leaders needs to understand our situation, out of which we are called upon to motivate our people to keep peace and work towards sustainable prosperity,” said Mudavadi.
President William Ruto presided over the event, which was also attended by Cabinet Secretary for Education Ezekiel Machogu, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Cabinet Secretary for Sports Ababu Namwamba, governors Kenneth Lusaka (Bungoma), Wilber Ottichilo (Vihiga), and host governor Fernandes Barasa, as well as several legislators from Kakamega and neighboring counties.
Local Varsities Challenged to Embrace Technology.
