MKU tribute to the late President Mwai Kibaki
The Mount Kenya University (MKU) fraternity has mourned His Excellency the late Mwai Kibaki as a great leader who transformed the education sector.
According to the institution, his passing on robbed the nation of an iconic leader who left giant footprints on the sands of time.
“Without any doubt, the loss is not only to his family and Kenya but also to Africa and the world at large,” Prof. Simon Gicharu, founder and chairman of MKU said.
He mourned his as gentlemanly mien who went quietly about positively touching lives without shouting about it or claiming sole credit.
Gicharu has celebrated him as a visionary, patriotic and focused leader who implemented transformative policies after his Government introduced some bold reforms that have guaranteed him a lasting legacy.
Kibaki enacted the Universities Act 2012 ushering in a new era in the higher education sector.
He levelled the playing field in university education in matters academic and research. All private are governed under the same law.
This paved the way for Government-sponsored students to join a university of their choice.
“The nation will forever remember Mzee Mwai Kibaki for expanding access to higher education. During his 10-year reign, he awarded charters to both public and private universities, thus unlocking academic opportunities for thousands of learners,” he said.
“As one of those universities, MKU has experienced first-hand the impact of these reforms.
Through its campuses in Kenya and Rwanda, the university continues to contribute to the human resource pool not just in East Africa but also in Sub-Saharan Africa and the rest of the world. MKU’s international character is a testimony to this,” he added.
Simon says, as education stakeholders, they cherish President Kibaki for introducing Free Primary Education (FPE) upon ascending to power in January 2003-19 years ago.
The aspect of the now famed “Kibakinomics” struck a chord among families across the country after Kibaki took care of tuition through the national budget, his Government enabled millions of Kenyan children from poor backgrounds to go through primary school.
The country has also sustained this policy increasing the transition rate to secondary school and onward to college and university.
“Hon Kibaki, the MKU family will forever be grateful for your time and encouragement during the award of the charter that has contributed to the growth of our university. An astute statesman has rested, but his impressive work on earth will outlive him,” he concluded.
