MKU’s Roots in Rwanda: From a Sleepy Village to Education Hub
Simon Gicharu, founder and chairman of Mount Kenya University (MKU), was inspired to establish an educational institution in Rwanda after being introduced to the country by his biology teacher, Mr Peter Claver Nyombayire.
A book released by the university in 2022, titled “Mountain Meets Land of 1,000 Hills”, details Gicharu’s journey and passion for education. Gicharu’s career began after he struggled with education as a child and helped his community acquire skills, which motivated him to venture into the education sector.
The book traces his journey back to his high school years at Gathiru-ini Secondary School in Kiambu, Kenya, from 1979 to 1982. Gicharu was drawn to Nyombayire’s interactive teaching style, resourcefulness, commitment, and his well-groomed appearance.
Nyombayire’s inspiration and Gicharu’s passion for education led him to establish MKU, a world-class educational institution in Thika, Kenya, and a similar institution in Kigali, Rwanda. Gicharu visited Rwanda 30 years later, hoping to reunite with Nyombayire and trek the gorillas at Volcanoes National Park. Unfortunately, he discovered that his former teacher had passed away.
“Mountain Meets Land of 1,000 Hills” is a 200-page memoir that elaborately details Gicharu’s career journey and passion for education. It reveals how his childhood struggles through education and desire to help his community acquire skills sparked his interest in the education sector.
The book also emphasizes how Mr Peter Claver Nyombayire’s teaching style inspired and motivated Gicharu to establish educational institutions in Kenya and Rwanda.
In conclusion, Professor Simon Gicharu’s passion for education and the impact of his biology teacher, Mr Peter Claver Nyombayire, are captured in “Mountain Meets Land of 1,000 Hills”.
The book not only documents Gicharu’s career journey but also highlights the importance of quality education and its role in shaping individuals and communities. Gicharu’s story is a testament to the power of education in transforming lives and inspiring people to create a positive impact in society.
Mount Kenya University (MKU) is supporting education in Rwanda by offering courses at its campus in Kigali. When the opportunity arose to establish a branch of the university in Rwanda, founder and chancellor Prof Simon Gicharu was keen to offer the benefits of higher education to the country.
MKU was the first foreign university to establish a presence in Rwanda, offering Rwandans the chance to study without having to leave their country. Rwanda had just one public university at the time, and a few private universities and middle-level colleges.
Since then, MKU has become a “preferred destination for higher education by Rwandans”, according to Professor Tom Nyamache, the principal of the university.
MKU, which was established in 2008 in Kenya, became a fully-fledged institution of higher learning three years later, and quickly gained accreditation in Rwanda. Rwandans quickly embraced the university as their own, and MKU became “a child of two worlds”.
The university has helped bridge the gap in knowledge and skills development and is raising the standard of education infrastructure through building high-quality campuses.
In addition to offering higher education, MKU has supported the local community. During a recent commemoration of the 1994 genocide, the university donated food and other items to 20 families in Nyakabanda sector and is building a new house for a widow.
Going forward, MKU in Rwanda aims to play a pivotal role in the realisation of the Republic of Rwanda’s development blueprint, the ‘Vision 2050’.
The university is planning to open a Four Star Hotel and a School of Hospitality and Tourism, and its School of Nursing aims to match the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing in Baltimore, Maryland, US.
Former Rwandan minister and MP Jean Marie Gatabazi says the university’s education, enriched by its African context, has been a major attraction for students. “The MKU strategy highlights what should be done to realise a stronger East Africa through investments”, he says.
MKU’s Roots in Rwanda: From a Sleepy Village to Education Hub
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