Familiarization visit by Hon. Ezekiel Machogu, Cabinet Secretary for Education
On Friday 4th November 2022, we hosted the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Hon. Ezekiel Machogu, who visited the Semiconductors Technologies Limited, Leather Technology Lab, Mechatronics Lab, Centre for Biomass Energy Studies, and the Centre for Development of Electronic Devices.
He also visited the Centre for Coffee Technology and Food Safety where he commended the University on its efforts to impact the surrounding communities positively. He acknowledged that coffee farmers have benefitted from the University through value addition and training that has helped them improve their coffee outputs and incomes. The CS also noted, during his visit to the Leather Technology Laboratory, that the University has great potential in the leather sector and urged the University to leverage on this.
Speaking during the event, the Cabinet Secretary congratulated the University for its commitment to finding innovative solutions. He encouraged the University to venture more into research and innovation to solve some of the local problems faced in the country and commercialize some of its innovations as these are viable avenues for revenue generation.“In Kenya, education takes about 25.9 per cent and we have to find other ways of creating and generating revenues for universities and they have to look at other revenues to complement government funding,” he said.
He concluded by commendingthe University’s focus on STEM, noting that 71% of the courses undertaken at the University are STEM-based, with 36% of the courses being in the Engineering sector. He also promised to support future partnerships between the University, other government agencies, and private sector players. He stated that these partnerships would bring about a common good for the country.
