Kipng’etich urges universities to lead climate change fight during MKU 29th graduation fete

Universities must take the lead in raising awareness about global warming and developing practical initiatives to help communities adapt to the growing effects of climate change, Jubilee Holdings Group Chief Executive Dr Julius Kipng’etich has said.

Kipng’etich said institutions of higher learning have a critical role in helping society understand the consequences of a warming planet and developing strategies for mitigation, adaptation and risk management.

Speaking as the guest speaker during Mount Kenya University’s (MKU) 29th graduation ceremony at the Happy Valley grounds in Thika, the former university lecturer warned that the effects of climate change were becoming increasingly difficult to reverse.

“We have lost the fight and climate change is here to stay. Global temperatures are currently very high and universities like MKU should be in the forefront teaching communities how to stay afloat,” Kipng’etich said.

He urged universities to move beyond academic research and actively engage communities on how to cope with the environmental and economic consequences of climate change.

Kipng’etich also challenged universities and graduates to harness emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), to drive positive change while ensuring technology does not replace human judgment and creativity.

“Use technology like AI to influence change, use it to add value to life and don’t be afraid of it. But don’t be a slave of it and never lose your natural intelligence,” he said.

The Jubilee Holdings chief executive further urged younger generations to challenge tribal perceptions, particularly in politics, and champion a more inclusive society.

He asked the graduands to become agents of social transformation, ethical leadership and inclusivity as they enter the world of work, while encouraging them to identify opportunities for innovation and job creation rather than waiting to be employed.

Kipng’etich told the graduates that their education should be used to address societal challenges, strengthen institutions and contribute to sustainable development.

Quoting former South African president and liberation icon Nelson Mandela, he said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

He urged the graduates to embrace lifelong learning, use emerging technologies responsibly and maintain integrity in both their personal and professional lives.

Kipng’etich also highlighted opportunities available to Kenyan students seeking to pursue further education locally and abroad.

He said the Higher Education Financing portal now processes government loans and scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate studies, including Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) postgraduate scholarships of up to Sh450,000 for PhD programmes and Sh200,000 for master’s degrees.

He also cited international opportunities offered through the Chevening Scholarship in the United Kingdom, DAAD and European Union funding programmes, the Fulbright programme in the United States, Commonwealth Scholarships and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

According to Kipng’etich, these programmes provide thousands of African students, including Kenyans, with opportunities to pursue fully funded studies abroad.

He said the EU-Equity Bank programme launched in June 2026 would provide more than 100 Kenyan students with access to global master’s, research and education opportunities aimed at developing globally competitive leaders.

“Last week, 33 Kenyan recipients of the 2026 Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s scholarships were flagged off. Explore these opportunities. Go out and be the architects of change that is social, governance that is ethical and success that is inclusive,” he told the graduating class.

Kipng’etich further encouraged graduates to remain open to career paths beyond their formal training, saying professional qualifications should not limit their ability to pursue new opportunities.

He gave the example of a commerce graduate who could eventually run a successful private clinic alongside medical professionals, while an engineer could leave construction sites and establish a flourishing agricultural enterprise.

MKU Vice-Chancellor Prof Deogratius Jaganyi challenged the graduates to become agents of social transformation, ethical leadership and innovation in an increasingly digital world.

Jaganyi said the university was strengthening its academic programmes through curriculum reviews, integration of artificial intelligence and digital skills training to prepare students for the changing demands of the labour market.

He said MKU had also expanded its postgraduate programmes to include emerging areas such as mental health, psychiatric studies and health records management in response to changing professional and societal needs.

The vice-chancellor highlighted the university’s growing international profile in research and innovation, citing major global research grants and student achievements in innovation competitions in Africa, China, Germany and the United States.

“In the first quarter of 2026, the University secured several prestigious international research grants extending to 2029. These include funding from the Gates Foundation, DAAD, Wellcome Trust, and Erasmus+ Mobility exchange Programme, supporting research in maternal health and employability,” Jaganyi said.

Beyond academics, he said MKU continued to invest in sports, drama and disability inclusion initiatives as part of its commitment to holistic education and equal opportunities.

University Council Chairman Dr Vincent Gaitho urged the graduands to carry the values of leadership, service and continuous learning into their professional and community lives.

Gaitho said graduation should not be viewed as the end of education but as the beginning of a lifelong commitment to applying knowledge for the benefit of society.

“Let your knowledge serve a purpose beyond personal success by uplifting communities and creating a better future for all,” he said.

He stressed the importance of integrity, accountability, transparency and service, saying sustainable development requires principled leaders who put the common good at the centre of their decisions.

Gaitho also encouraged the graduates to promote diversity and inclusion, describing the two values as essential foundations for peaceful, cohesive and progressive societies.