Guests and senior MKU officials after the graduation ceremony. Photos/Courtesy.
By MKT Reporter
Mount Kenya University (MKU) has challenged its latest graduates to remain resilient, embrace lifelong learning and create opportunities for themselves and others as they begin their professional journeys.
The call was made last Friday during the university’s 29th graduation ceremony, where Chancellor Prof John Struthers, Council Chairman Dr Vincent Gaitho, Jubilee Holdings Group Chief Executive Officer Dr Julius Kipngetich and Alumni Association Chairman Gikera Kahara urged the graduates to use their education to drive social transformation.
Prof Struthers told the graduands that young people must remain competitive and adaptable in an increasingly interconnected global village, noting that technological advances will continue to reshape their lives and careers.
He said MKU was preparing its students for the opportunities and challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution through strategic partnerships and international collaborations.
The Chancellor cited the recent operationalisation of the university’s Cloud Computing Laboratory through collaboration with Xinyada ICT Company and leading Chinese higher education institutions.
The facility, he said, would expose students to emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, robotics, 5G and the Internet of Things.
“These initiatives reflect a university that continually anticipates the future while remaining firmly committed to solving society’s most pressing challenges,” Prof Struthers said.
Dr Gaitho reminded the graduates that they were entering a world characterised by rapid change and complex challenges, but said the same environment offered opportunities to make a difference.
He challenged them to confront poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, technological disruption and social injustice through innovation, courage and compassion.
“Let your knowledge serve a purpose beyond personal success by uplifting communities and creating a better future for all,” Dr Gaitho said.
He urged them to uphold integrity, accountability, transparency and service to others, whether working in public service, business, academia or community leadership.
Create opportunities, Kipngetich tells graduates
Dr Kipngetich challenged the graduates to abandon the mindset that success depends solely on employment opportunities created by others.
He said graduates should create opportunities for themselves and other people, noting that even a small enterprise could have a significant multiplier effect on the economy.
He gave the example of a graduate opening a restaurant and employing a cook, purchasing produce from farmers and engaging boda boda riders to transport supplies.
According to Dr Kipngetich, a university degree should be viewed as a foundation rather than a limitation, allowing graduates to explore careers and enterprises beyond their academic disciplines.
He urged them to look beyond Kenya for opportunities, noting that MKU alumni had found success in countries such as Germany and Austria.
The corporate leader also encouraged graduates to pursue lifelong learning through reskilling and upskilling, particularly in digital literacy, data and artificial intelligence.
He warned that future jobs would demand competencies that many people had not yet encountered.
Dr Kipngetich further urged young people interested in politics to embrace a new approach to leadership by debating ideas rather than identities and building coalitions instead of personality-driven movements.
He also challenged them to uphold ethical standards, including refusing to trade their votes, voices or silence for handouts.
MKU tightens doctoral training
Meanwhile, MKU is strengthening its postgraduate training through new measures aimed at improving the quality and international recognition of doctoral research.
Five students graduated with PhDs during the ceremony after completing rigorous academic and research requirements.
They were Benson Nyamweya Omwario, Amos Andama Nyamoko, Susan Wanjiku Mugo, Lilian Lwaya Elijah and Loise Kuria Nyakeru.
Under the university’s new framework, doctoral students are required to publish their research in international peer-reviewed journals before graduation.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Deogratius Jaganyi said the learner-centred model integrates research, mentorship, scholarly engagement and publication in peer-reviewed indexed journals.
He said the approach was intended to produce researchers, innovators and thought leaders capable of addressing local and global challenges.
“PhD students are the drivers of research in highly ranked universities globally. Such research must be published in high-quality journals that enjoy international recognition,” Prof Jaganyi said.
He added that the university’s objective was not merely to graduate students but to produce scholars whose research contributes to solving real-world problems and expanding global knowledge.
The five doctoral graduates described their journeys as demanding but rewarding, citing rigorous coursework, research, mentorship and collaboration as key components of their success.
Alumni chairman Kahara urged the new graduates to give back to their alma mater and communities by mentoring students and supporting initiatives aimed at creating social impact.
He cited the Boda Safe Ride programme, which began in Bungoma County and is expected to be replicated across the country, as an example of alumni-led community engagement.
He also encouraged the graduates to remain persistent when confronted by setbacks, urging them to gather courage, try again and, where necessary, change their approach rather than abandon their ambitions.
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