I take this opportunity to thank these staff members for their hard work and for carrying the University flag high across the globe.

Prof. Rose A. Mwonya, VICE-CHANCELLOR

DELIVERED ON FRIDAY, 31st JULY 2020 DURING THE 42ND GRADUATION CEREMONY

 

Chancellor, Egerton University

Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology

The PS Ministry of Education

Chancellors of other Universities present virtually

Chairman, Egerton University Council

Council Members, Egerton University

Chairpersons of Councils of other Universities present virtually

Vice Chancellors of other Universities present virtually

Deputy Vice Chancellors

Members of the University Senate

Senior Government Officials

Members of Staff, Graduating Class, Parents and Guardians

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I take this opportunity on behalf  Egerton University Management team , Senate , staff and students  to welcome you all to Egerton University and thank you for joining us today as we celebrate our 42nd Graduation Ceremony. To those graduating, congratulations for a job well done. I’m aware that this is a unique graduation since we are used to seeing one another, laughing, hugging and taking selfies but because of the Covid 19 pandemic we had to do this virtual graduation.  We are here to grace the occasion with pomp, colour, joy and deep reflection because of your faith in yourself, in your abilities, the determination to succeed and your endurance through it all.  I know it has been tiring, rough, challenging, but you emerged victorious! Once more congratulations.

Today, a total of 1018 students are going to be awarded diplomas and conferred degrees across our various Faculties.  We are just about to award 90 Diplomas and confer 874 Bachelor’s degrees, 44 Masters Degrees and 10 PhDs. We take pride in the input of your parents, guardians, your faculty staff, family and friends who participated in one way or another in refining the individuals we are celebrating today though we miss seeing you physically. We still celebrate your achievement.

Mr. Chancellor Sir,

  Allow me to recognise and thank the CS Education Prof. George Magoha and his team for taking time from their busy schedule to be with us during this joyous occasion. I also thank the PS  University Education and Research Amb. Simon Nabukwesi for coming. We as a University are grateful for the support you through the Ministry has been according the us. I also thank the government through the Ministry of Interior for ensuring that the University is secure through deployment of security officers inside the University compound. Finally I thank my staff members for their efforts in making this ceremony successful despite all the challenges associated with covid 19 protocols.

Mr. Chancellor Sir,

Im glad that we are graduating students at this tough times of covid 19 which has disrupted learning throughout the country. The academic calendar was cut short and students advised to go home prematurely. The staff members were also advised to work from home. All these were done as mitigation measure against the pandemic. Despite all these challenges the university continue to make tremendous progress across various faculties.

Through the Division of Academic Affairs there has been streamlining and the delivery of education through harnessing of technology and other tools vital in enabling progress in learning despite the pandemic.

We have been conducting online thesis defences through the Board of Post Graduate Studies where students have virtually proceeded with oral presentations of proposals both in the department and faculties as well as projects/theses defences from across the country and the world at large. Through this method students from Ghana, South Africa, Rwanda, and Malawi were able to complete their studies on time with support from supervisors spread across the world. Our academic staff have been working round the clock to develop online modules of lecture content and coupled with virtual graduation we are living true to our motto of Transforming Lives through Quality Education.

Mr. Chancellor Sir,

The Division of Research has made tireless efforts in enhancing our capacity to attract funding through writing excellent research and development proposals, providing numerous consultancies, supporting students involved in postgraduate research, and coordinating student attachment programmes.  As a result of these efforts, the students and staff through their various faculties have won a number of scholarships, research funding, fellowships and consultancies as highlighted below:

  • Mariam Karwitha from the Faculty of Agriculture won One planet Fellowship which seeks to build vibrant, highly connected and intergenerational network of African and European scientists leaders.
  • Shadrack Nasongo from Rhodes University who is an alumni of this University won the 2020 Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship where African born scholars participates in educational projects at higher educational projects in Africa.
  • Stephen Mwangi from the Faculty of Natural Resources won full scholarship from Partnership for Knowledge financed by Italian Agency for International Corporation to study MSC in Geoinformatics Engineering.
  • David Omondi from the Faculty of Science won two year Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine in Berlin, Germany among others.

I take this opportunity to thank these staff members for their hard work and for carrying the University flag high across the globe.

Mr. Chancellor Sir,

Early this year the country faced Covid 19 pandemic that affected all facets of human life and all resources were mobilised to fight it. I want to report to you that Egerton as world class University for the advancement of humanity was never left behind. Our staff members got involved in one way or the other to contain the pandemic as highlighted below:

  • Our staff member from the Department of Industrial and Energy Engineering, Dr. George Owino fabricated and donated to Nakuru Level Five Hospital a booth for testing samples of the virus that overcomes most of the challenges associated with interactions between medical personnel and patients.
  • The Faculty of Science through the Department of Chemistry mobilised and started producing hand-rub sanitisers and liquid soaps for the benefit of students, staff and community.
  • The Faculty of Education through through the Department of Applied Community Studies also started designing and making face masks for students, staff and community.

Mr. Chancellor Sir,

In order to live to our mission of knowledge generation and dissemination, we are preparing to receive about 3490 first years through online admission. Currently the students are uploading documents online for registration purposes. We expect online reporting to be on 13/08/2020 thereafter orientation starts for two weeks, then online teaching and learning starts in September. As for continuing students online teaching and learning is already going and academic staff members are already trained on online lecture content on pilot basis. We plan to continue training of our staff members on online exam management through collaboration with Michigan State University in the US. As for face to face learning and teaching, this depends on the availability of facilities. With the unwavering commitment of our staff and support from our students, we are proud to say that we are on the right track.

Mr. Chancellor Sir,

Despite all these success stories the university has also faced huge financial   challenges as a result of this pandemic. Since the beginning of this pandemic when the academic calendar was interfered with and the University closed prematurely, this had financial implications on the university since all our sources of revenue were stopped. This situation has necessitated the University to pay staff salaries at 60% of the net and the Ministry is already aware.

Currently we are preparing to resume learning after complying with all the Ministry of Health Guidelines. I wish to inform you that we are still facing the challenges of inadequate facilities if we are to comply fully with guidelines. I make humble appeal to our Ministry for additional financial support to reduce the above challenges.

Mr. Chancellor Sir,

As I conclude, I want to remind my graduands that this is not the end of everything but just the beginning of good things to come. I want to remind them to continue beaming with hopes, desires and prospects for the future. We have innovatively influenced your development through holistic education, generation, acquisition, preservation and dissemination of knowledge and skills. It’s my wish that all these will contribute to national and global development. I look forward to your coming back for further studies to explore areas that strengthen your career. 

Congratulations. I expect great things from you. Please follow protocols and stay safe.

DELIVERED ON FRIDAY, 31st JULY 2020 DURING THE 42ND GRADUATION CEREMONY

 
Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Chancellors of other Universities present Chairman, Egerton University Council Council Members, Egerton University Chairpersons of councils of other universities Vice Chancellor, Egerton University Deputy Vice Chancellors, Egerton University Vice chancellors of other universities All invited Guests, Members of staff, graduands, parents and guardians Ladies and gentlemen, It is my pleasure and privilege to preside over this 42nd graduation ceremony and to take this opportunity to thank all graduands for their achievements, dedication, hard work and perseverance that has culminated into this graduation ceremony. I know you have made a mark for yourselves. As a University we join you in celebrating your achievements on this day. It is my prayer that you shall put your knowledge at the service of humanity and that with the help of your contributions the country and the world at large shall be a better place for you and the generations to come. Allow me also to take this opportunity to thank the University Council, the University Management, staff, students and the whole university community for their tireless efforts that has culminated into this occasion. Well-done and continue doing this good work for the growth and economic development of our motherland Kenya.

 

The infection curve has recently steepened as young Kenyans are getting infected rapidly due to socializing with no regard to protection. I urge all the graduants and university students to keep healthy by practicing healthy habits, for example taking healthy diet, keeping fit by daily exercises and walking.

Keep yourself busy and your young minds occupied by being helpful to your parents and guardians at home. Help in the shamba, do house work and take care of your family’s economic activities.

To the graduands and all students, do not resolve or get involved in substance abuse, criminal activities and idling. As the saying goes an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.
In all your undertakings take precaution and always observe the government stipulated directives of social distancing, wearing of face masks, avoiding crowded places, sanitizing and washing hands with soap and water frequently.
The Government will not watch or police everyone. Always protect your loved ones and close associates from this deadly disease by observing these simple practices which will intern save lives. It is a personal responsibility and not the Government’s, plan your life keeping in mind the situation at hand. We cannot keep doing things normally, extra care is needed to save our lives.

This is a difficult time but I am confident that we will get out of it together. I reiterate we shall overcome this pandemic together and I am happy to say that this situation will not last forever. As His excellency the President stated, The Government will not close the country to preserve the economy but it is our individual responsibility to preserve our health. We have faith that the economy will be back on its feet again and businesses will start opening, whereby you will have the chance to apply the knowledge you have acquired throughout your years in the university.

As a university we stand in solidarity with the health workers, who are infected by Covid-19 while treating our brothers and sisters. Some medical workers have lost their lives We pray for their families for God to give them comfort and strength.

I appeal to each one of us to lend a hand in one way or another through humble donations of food supplies, drugs, medical equipment and financial support so that the less privileged people in society can be helped and saved.

I urge you to leave to the University motto of Transforming Lives through quality education by creating a world where there will be, no unemployment, no poverty and no extremism and each day the world would be safer, better and healthier than on previous days.

Ladies and Gentlemen, You are graduating from a University with rich history having been founded as Farm school in 1939 by Lord Maurice Egerton of Tatton. This University has given us many leaders in Politics, in Finance and also in Business. Many Governors and Cabinet Secretaries have been products of this institution. I am sure one day you will be the future leader and the business men and ladies from this great university. I take this opportunity to thank our donor partners, the National Government, County Government, the World Bank, the MasterCard Foundation, USAID, the European Union, the Chinese Government and many more who have continued to supplement the efforts of the University. We say thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen, In conclusion I urge you to keep walking because the journey has just started. Opportunity is waiting for you. Remove failure from your dictionary, be the ambassador of this great University and our motherland Kenya.

Remember to stay safe because we need you for tomorrow. I once again congratulate you graduands and wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Statement by Amb. Dr Hukka Wario, PHD, CBS, chair of council, Egertion University on 7th December on the occasion of the 39th Graduation

Our Guest of Honour, the Honourable Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Education Amb. Dr Amina Mohamed, The Chancellor, Egerton University, Professor Shem Wandiga, Chancellors of other Universities present, Members of the Governing Council, Egerton University, Chairs of Governing Councils of other universities present, The Vice chancellor, Egerton University, Professor Rose Mwonya, Vice chancellors of other universities present, Deputy Vice Chancellors, Members of the Egerton University Senate, All Members of the Teaching as well as non-Teaching Staff , Members of the Students Council, All invited Guests, graduands, parents and all Alumni present, all continuing students, the Egerton University Neighbourhood Community, Ladies and gentlemen.

On behalf of the Egerton University Council I take this opportunity to welcome you to this 39th graduation ceremony as we join the graduands in celebrating their achievements. I am most delighted to stand before you today, to celebrate with you, particularly those graduating today, your great journey to your much cherished and much deserved diploma or degree. The end of long awaited journey is here. This is your day. It is a historic and august occasion, a turning point in your life. We stand before you together with your fellow students, lecturers, professors, supervisors, parents, and friends as witnesses and celebrants of your great, and I must say, enviable achievements. Right at the onset, on behalf of council and this entire congregation, warm congratulations to you. Of you graduating today, we are all, all, truly very proud.

Mr Chancellor Sir

Let me use this occasion to thank the Government for the unwavering support it has been given the university in terms of annual budget for both recurrent and capital expenditure. I appreciate the University Management Board, the Senate, staff for their hard work and commitment whose fruits we are witnessing today. I must also appreciate our students who have also remained disciplined and peaceful during the year making learning to proceed without disruption.

Our efforts to transform this University have received enormous support from various quarters. I would like to thank the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Education, and other government bodies such as the National Research Fund for availing research funds to students, and the Higher Education Loans Board for the financial support to most students.  I wish to also thank our development partners The United States Agency for International Development, USAID, the World Bank, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, JICA, The Regional Universities Forum, RUFORUM, the Master card Foundation, the Government of the Peoples Republic of China, the Government of the Netherlands, and other partners for assistance to Egerton University in various projects. I would also like to thank the community in the neighbourhood of the University, for providing a harmonious and conducive environment for a friendly and peaceful co-existence with the university community.

Mr Chancellor Sir

As the graduands join the ever growing and strong Egerton University Alumni, of which we are very proud, I urge them not to forget to give back to their Alma Mater. You owe this University, individual and corporate social responsibility. Council, together with Management and Senate are toying with ideas such as strengthening the Egerton University Press, to publish books, peer reviewed academic journals and the results of research by both students and staff, to add to the nation’s growing knowledge economy. In such and other initiatives, we shall rely on you as alumni to chip in and make your contributions in cash, kind and in ideas to help this University forge ahead in its service to the national and the international community.  We shall count on your goodwill and support. For continuing students, Council, together with Management and Senate are consulting on introducing an Undergraduate Mentorship Programme, where students will be asked to link with members of Alumni of their choice, with the help of the University, to be provided with mentorship throughout their study period. This will help guide their academic growth and career choices.

Mr Chancellor Sir

The University is faced by the challenges of incomplete projects. These include the Administration Block, the Horticulture and Agronomy Complex which will house the flagship Faculty of Agriculture and the equipping of the Physical Science Complex. I would like to ask our government, which has always been supportive to continue giving us a helping hand in seeing these projects to completion. As the Chair of Council, I would like to assure you that Council and Management will work hard to seek for more resources, from near and from far, to supplement government efforts, to advance the University’s mission of offering quality education to students and generate knowledge for national and the global knowledge economy.

Dear graduands, lend me your ears.

As you go out into the world, do not forget that there are many out there less fortunate than you are.  Many who have had no opportunity of education, let alone university education. It’s your duty and obligation to give a helping hand wherever and whenever you can, in imparting some of your knowledge and skills so that they can also improve their livelihoods. Knowledge is something  that you dont have less of, by sharing. You lose have nothing to lose by sharing knowledge. Its a win-win for both the giver and the receiver. Both parties are the better off for sharing.

 

As you go into the world, as you go to serve, and serve with honour and pride of achievement, uphold our national values which we cherish and hold so dear to our hearts. The values enshrined in our constitution: patriotism, ; respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual citizen; democracy and participation of the people; sovereign power as belonging to the people; equity and social justice; inclusiveness, equality and human rights; non-discrimination and the protection of the marginalized and compassion for those in need and for the less fortunate in society; mutual respect, tolerance and fair play; freedom of conscience, of expression and an equal opportunity for all; good governance, integrity, transparency and accountability and finally , the rule of law and the primacy of the constitution as the law supreme, putting all our efforts to achieving sustainable development for our country.

Once the Chancellor confers degrees and diplomas upon you and dissolves the congregation, you will go. Go and serve the people across the country with honour, dignity and pride, knowing very well that you lead best through humility and service to all.

May finish by saying, Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you all.

 

DELIVERED ON FRIDAY, 7TH DECEMBER 2018 DURING THE 39TH GRADUATION CEREMONY

 
Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education Science and Technology, Chancellor Egerton University, Chancellors of other Universities present, Chairman Egerton University Council Council Members, Egerton University Chairpersons of Councils of other Universities, Vice Chancellors of other Universities, Deputy Vice Chancellors, Members of the University Senate, Senior Government Officials, Members of Staff, Graduating Class, Parents and Guardians, Ladies and Gentlemen..
 
On behalf of the University Management, the Senate, the staff and the students, I warmly welcome you all to Egerton University, and thank you for joining us as we celebrate our 39th Graduation Ceremony, our second graduation this calendar year. I would like to congratulate the graduating class for their hard work. I commend the parents and the guardians for the sacrifices they have made, and the lecturers for spending their time in nurturing the students to complete their studies successfully and on time.
I also take this opportunity to thank the Senate, the Faculties and the members of staff for their hard work and dedication that has culminated in this event. Across our various Faculties, today we will award 301 Diplomas, 2319 Bachelors, 92 Masters and 21 PhDs degrees. That’s a total of 2,733 students in the graduating class!
 
Mr. Chancellor Sir, Our success is not only reflected in the size of our graduating class, but also in the depth and breadth of the quality programs we have established here at Egerton. We are proud to be a Centre of Excellence in Agriculture, consistent with our motto of “Transforming lives through quality education,” and we are working closely with Government as it pursues the country’s Food Security and Economic Development Agenda. Egerton is home to cutting research centres such as the African Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture and Agribusiness Management (CESAAM) that is sponsored by the World Bank, among others. Through such centres and the international linkages we have forged with several world class institutions and organizations, our students have unique opportunities for advancement. It will not be unusual for a student to start a Masters’ program at Egerton and then proceed for a PhD at a partner institution such as Virginia Technical College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in the USA, for example.
 
In order to fulfill our mission of generating and disseminating significant knowledge and to offer exemplary education that contribute to national and global development, Egerton University has opened its doors, over the last several years, to admitting students from the rest of the African continent for postgraduate studies in Agricultural Sciences. The number of students admitted has grown to 168 in 2018. We shall grow this number to make Egerton not just a national public university but a Pan-African University, serving the needs of all the peoples of Africa in realizing food security for all through high level training and skilling of Agri-businessmen, Agri-businesswomen and Agri-technocrats. We are proud to be pioneers in this effort and we ask for the continued support of our government and well-wishers to realize our dream in this ambitious but very worthwhile continental outreach programme.
We have established an Agro-Park where farmers are learning the latest in agricultural techniques and processes, and is also a one-stop resource for farming inputs such as fingerlings, mushroom seeds, goats and high yield dairy cows. Additionally, Egerton University recently hosted a conference in Naivasha in which discussions centred on plans to build an Agri-Tech City here in Njoro. This will be the first city of its kind in Africa. Through this city, bridges will be built to bring research and agribusiness together.
Despite our current progress, Egerton University, like most Kenyan institutions of higher learning, is seriously lacking in essential resources. This has had a serious impact on capacity building and it is a proximate cause of incessant struggles between management and other stakeholders. We appreciate the Government’s continued support but we request for more assistance to enable us to continue to provide for our students as we collectively work to solve the country’s food security problems.
 
Mr. Chancellor Sir,I now want to address the graduating class. We are honored and thrilled to be here with you today; thrilled to celebrate this milestone in your lives; thrilled for all the people who are here supporting you – the people who have pushed you, dried your tears and laughed with you from your first day at Egerton to this day. As I reflected on what to share with you today, I settled on a theme that we’re all too familiar with here at Egerton. I want to talk to you about resilience.
 
Each of you has walked a unique path to reach this day. Some of you faced real trauma. All of you faced challenges, disappointment, heartache, loss, illness – all of these are so personal when they strike – but they are also so universal. We are not born with a certain amount of resilience. It is like a muscle, and that means we can build it. We build resilience into ourselves. We build resilience into the people we love or care about. And we build it together, as a community. That’s called “collective resilience.” It’s an incredibly powerful force – and it is one that our country and our world need a lot more of right now. It is in our relationships with each other that we find our will to live, our capacity to care, and our ability to bring change to this country.
 
Today’s graduating class: you are particularly suited to the task of building collective resilience because you are graduating from Egerton. You’ve been part of that here, whether you knew it or not. As you go off and become leaders – and yes, you will lead, you are destined to lead – you can make the organizations you join – and the communities you form – much stronger.
 
Building collective resilience also means trying to understand how the world looks to those who have experienced it differently – because they are a different race, come from a different tribe, or have an economic background unlike yours. We each have our own story but we can write new ones together – and that means seeing the values in each other’s points of view, and looking for common ground.
Is anyone here a little bit anxious about your future? Not sure where the future is taking you? Sometimes, I am too. And do you know what helps you combat that fear? A very big idea captured in a special word: HOPE.
 
Mr. Chancellor Sir, Let’s talk about hope. There are many kinds of hope. There is the hope that as you sit here your stuff will magically pack itself in your residence halls. As your Vice Chancellor I have the hope that this year all my graduating students will be able to practice in their areas of study. There is even the hope that before you start your career, there will be no more corruption in the Kenya. But my favourite kind of hope is called grounded hope -- the understanding that if you take action, you can make things better. We normally think of hope as something that’s held in individual people. But hope – like resilience – is something we grow and nurture together.
 
This should be your legacy, my dear graduating class of 2018. You should carry it with you – that capacity for finding resilience in yourselves and building resilience in the people around you. The truth is, each of you will face unique challenges. In particular, be prepared to fight malfeasance, which will likely manifest itself in many forms. You will be shocked to learn that the corrupt also have their own way of expressing resilience. Their fight-back will often be vicious. Your recourse will be to insist on transparency; to insist on process; to insist on procedure; and to insist fairness. Not so long ago, corruption and acts of bad faith seemed invincible. We accepted them as natural fate. In truth it has mostly been just a product of institutional weakness. So, if you persist, you will build institutions and environments governed by process, responsibility and goodwill.  If you grow weary in your journey, just remember that when it is all said and done, they can fight you but at some point we all leave the scene, and in the fullness of time, we die. At that point people want to remember you for what you did for them, not what you did to them.
 
So as you leave this beautiful campus and set out into the world, build resilience in yourselves. When tragedy or disappointment strike, know that deep inside you, you have the ability to get through anything. I promise you do. As the saying goes, we are more vulnerable than we ever thought, but we are stronger than we ever imagined. Build resilient organizations. Speak up when you see injustice. Lend your time and your passion to the causes that matter. And know that there are systems instituted which protect law and order. Being justified and righteous does not license a path to disorderly misconduct. There are established process to airing grievances which minimize unnecessary conflicts and misunderstandings. I expect high standards of you.
 
This is your challenge, graduates. What kind of country, what kind of world, will you help build? What values will you respect? What will drive your life and the lives of others? Ten years from now, when the class of 2028 stands here and prepares to graduate, what will you have done to help them?
 
My New Year’s resolution last year was to write down three moments of joy before I went to bed each night. This very simple thing has changed my life. Because I realized I used to go to bed every night thinking about what I did wrong and what I was going to avoid doing wrong the next day. Now I go to sleep thinking of what went right. And when those moments of joy happen throughout the day, I notice them more because I know they’ll make the notebook. Try it. Start tonight, on this day full of happy memories.
 
Graduates, on the path before you, you will have good days and you will have hard days. Go through all of them together. Seek shared experiences with all kinds of people. Write shared narratives that create the world you want to live in. Build shared hope in the organizations you join and the communities you form. And above all, find gratitude for the gift of life itself and the opportunities it provides for meaning, for joy, and for love even. Tonight, when I write down my three moments of joy, I will write about you. I will write about the hope and the amazing resilience of this institution. And maybe you’ll write that I finally stopped talking. You have the whole world in front of you. I cannot wait to see what you do with it.
 
Congratulations and I wish you nothing but success!