Former Mount Kenya University (MKU) graduates who have failed to get their certificates due to fee arrears can now breathe a sigh of relief after the university waived their Sh82 million debt.
The University’s Founder and Chairman Board of Directors Prof Simon Gicharu, instructed the university to give the graduates their certificates unconditionally to allow them to be in a position to look for jobs.
He said the move was necessitated by the huge number of certificates lying uncollected due to fee arrears, pointing out that they restricted them from getting employed.
“I have looked around and found out that several graduates are yet to collect their certificates due to debt in fees arrears. As a university, it’s our wish that they take the documents to be able to look for jobs. This will see us forfeit Sh82 million, though, to a good course,” Prof. Gicharu said.
He called on those who would benefit from the gesture to, in the future, give back if they get jobs.
“Once you get a job, feel free to repay the money to the institution. The money will be directed to the Chancellor’s kitty that helps in educating learners from poor backgrounds,” he said.
He spoke during the 25th graduation ceremony at the Thika main campus, where some 8,000 grandaunts were conferred with various degrees and others awarded diplomas and certificates.
At the same time, the Chairman announced that the University would, starting next year, start a Bachelor of Nautical Sciences course to train ship captains and officers at the Malindi campus.
Higher Education and Research Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, who was the chief guest, emphasised the need for universities to invest in Research, Science, Technology and Innovation ecosystem to enable the country to develop.
The PS reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to providing a conducive policy environment for support of research, promotion of patents, scaling of innovations, and their commercialisation.
Her sentiments were echoed by MKU Vice Chancellor Prof. Daegratius Jaganyi, who emphasised the University’s commitment to building strategic partnerships to strengthen research and innovation both locally and with international institutions.
On supporting young innovators to develop their technologies, he said the university would award faculty members from various schools’ research grants up to Sh1.8 million from the Vice Chancellors kitty.
He said Faculty members were expected to work with postgraduate students to improve the graduate completion rate.
“The university continues to source for external research funding by applying for competitive research grants. This year, between January and June, the University faculty won about Sh75, 969,840 to support research and innovation,” Prof. Jaganyi said.
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