- Magoha spoke at the sixth graduation ceremony of Kibabii University in Kanduyi, Bungoma.
- The CS said Kibabii has a great chance to solve the many challenges that have led to the deterioration of the economy in Western.
Image: JOHN NALIANYA
Universities have been urged to embrace technology and engage in innovation to provide answers to challenges facing communities.
Education CS George Magoha said there are many challenges facing agriculture, like ailing factories, that can be solved through research and innovation by universities.
Magoha said there is a need for universities to be in the frontline in solving the problems the country is facing.
"The President has asked me to talk about corruption, nepotism, disease and ignorance that are affecting our universities as we release these graduates to the job market," he said.
Magoha spoke at the sixth graduation ceremony of Kibabii University in Kanduyi, Bungoma.
The CS said Kibabii has a great chance to solve the many challenges that have led to the deterioration of the economy in Western region and the country at large.
He however warned the university not to follow the footsteps of other universities, saying if it does the institution will not be headed anywhere.
"In order for Kibabii University to be self-sustaining in future it must be different from others and it's management must audit itself well so that the management and faculty must get rid of corruption and nepotism," he said.
Magoha encouraged the university to stand out and do more innovation and research with urgency to find ways of reviving collapsed giant factories in Western.
"Western Kenya is a very fertile region with enough food and it is where this national university is, so it must be in the frontline in finding solutions to our collapsed factories of Nzoia and Mumias Sugar. We should consolidate these factories to help this region and the university must ensure the factories are sustainable by solving their problems," he said.
He added that it doesn't make sense for residents to import maize from Uganda yet the university has good brains.
The CS asked the county government of Bungoma to support Kibabii University to enable them start manufacturing fertiliser so that farmers don't lament high prices.
"Universities research funds have billions of shillings that are not being utilized to create solutions to basic problems affecting the country. In terms of research findings, more should be done since I expected to hear that this university has a crack unit of about 50 researchers whose jobs is just to write proposals and get research grants for the scholars," he said.
Magoha praised the Competency Based Curriculum as a legacy of the Jubilee administration.
"This CBC will ensure that children do things with their heads and brains both in school and at home and avoid vices in society," the CS said.
Magoha urged parents to focus on the future benefits of CBS and not just on how expensive the programme is.
The CS said people should stop confusing members of the public that CBC is not working, since most universities have put in place committees that ensure CBC is running smoothly.
He urged the fresh graduates of Kibabii to be responsible members of the community and carry themselves with decorum as they move into the job market.
Edited by Henry Makori