MKU founder feted for scaling heights of education

By Amos Kareithi

After ten long years of hard work, the founder of one of Kenya’s fast growing private university has attracted State attention.

Mt Kenya University founder and chairman Simon Nyutu Gicharu, for his contribution towards the development of education in recent times, was awarded State honours by President Kibaki during Jamhuri Day celebrations. He was awarded Chief of the Burning Spear title.

Excellence

“In recognition of outstanding or distinguished services rendered to the nation in the area of education, President KIbaki, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kenya, honours Simon Nyutu Gicharu with the order of the Burning Spear, First Class,” read part of the citation.

His recognition during the celebrations to mark Kenya’s 49th independence, came just a week after MKU held its fourth graduation. Some 5,600 students graduated with various degrees, diplomas, and certificates. The event also marked the university’s 10th anniversary.

Development

“This award will be dedicated to our staff, parents, sponsors and students who have shown a lot of confidence in us. Your faith and commitment to the shared vision has made MKU what it is today. Your support has been pivotal in creating this institution,” Gicharu said, soon after receiving the award.

Gicharu says he started an institute of technology ten years ago, he always had a dream of transforming it into a university despite the many teething problems and his dream came true few years ago when it was awarded the university status.

“I am humbled that the seeds we planted a decade ago have sprouted and developed into a major institution, which is shaping the destiny of Kenya by providing the required manpower and skills to propel the country to remain true to its development goals,” he added.

In the 10 years MKU has been in existence, it has produced more than 40,000 graduates who are now serving the country and the world in various capacities and spheres in life. It also directly and indirectly employs more than 2,000 people.

Security camera

Besides Gicharu, an alumnus of MKU Elijah Kupata was also awarded by the State for innovation. Kupata’s innovation is a remote tracking 3G remote camera that alerts owners of houses,  through their mobile phones, when intruders enter their premises.

According to Kupata, 27, who graduated from MKU in 2006, the moment someone interferes with a fence, the camera sends live images of the intruder to the mobile phone of the house owner. The camera uses SIM and memory cards  to capture the image.

In January, Kupata was awarded Sh3 million by the National Council for Science and Technology to commercialise it and he has already sold more than 50 pieces of the camera and has produced about 200 others for sale.

Affordable education

MKU is one of the fast growing private university in Kenya and a fortnight ago graduated its first class of the Kigali, Rwanda campus.

“We are now headed to Somalia. We will be opening a campus there very soon. We have already secured a Letter of Interim Authority. Our plans are to provide quality and affordable education to Somalis who urgently require university education,” Gicharu added.

“We are determined to provide solutions to emerging economic, health and technological issues. We will assist innovators benefit from their discoveries,” adds the MKU founder and chairman.

So far, MKU is the only private university offering bachelor of pharmacy and clinical medicine in Kenya.