CPA Dr Aurelia Rono, Principal Secretary, State Department for Parliamentary Affairs within the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary./COURTERSY
This is according to the Principal Secretary, State Department for Parliamentary Affairs, Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, CPA Dr Aurelia Rono.
While considering the knowledge acquired in universities a tool for service to the nation, the PS insists that good character is vital. Dr Rono was the chief guest during Mount Kenya University’s graduation ceremony on December 5.
The event’s theme was: ‘From Knowledge to Nation Building: Advancing Responsible Leadership and Governance through Higher Education Institutions.’
The PS noted that the university has ingrained democratic principles in student leadership, a development she termed as necessary in preparing future leaders.
Dr Rono lauded MKU for its impact on innovation and industry, noting that this is recognised globally. MKU students have put the university on the world map for their innovative ideas and solutions that address societal challenges.
A recent example are two student innovations by the duo of Esbon Ogeto and Bettinah Maruti.
The two developed organic fertiliser from agricultural waste under their enterprise, NanaHeal. They have also come up with EcoBlue, a technology that extracts clean water from the air.
These initiatives, the PS asserted, “offer globally recognised solutions to our most pressing climate and resource challenges.” Dr Rono lauded MKU’s partnership with Hochschule Koblenz University of Applied Sciences in Germany to prepare Kenyans for nursing apprenticeships in Germany.
Thereafter, they are absorbed in the German health sector. In her view, the corporate social responsibility initiatives MKU engages in offer students the opportunity to engage with communities while still learning.
The PS appreciated MKU’s dedication to inclusion through comprehensive disability policies, saying it ensured that the foundation of Kenya’s future “is resilient and fair for all.”
