14 Covid-19 cases at UoN, institution to hold virtual graduation ceremony

University of Nairobi Vice-Chancellor Prof Stephen Kiama on Friday stated that the institution had recorded 14 cases of Covid-19 and will now hold a virtual graduation ceremony in September to ensure safety of staff and students.

While giving a briefing regarding the academic calendar, Prof Kiama said the university will continue dispensing its services through online platforms and the virtual graduation ceremony will take place on September 25, 2020.

“We have recorded 14 confirmed cases involving 10 members of staff, and 4 of their dependents. Three active members of staff and one retired staff have lost their lives. These are not mere statistics.

“Let me also reassure all the students and staff that we are going to hold the 63rd graduation ceremony virtually on 25th September 2020,” he said.

Adding: “We plan to graduate all qualified graduands for PhDs, Masters, Bachelors, Diplomas and fellowships.”

Continuing students are set to resume in September and parents and guardians were urged to support them by providing smartphones, iPads and laptops.

The University of Nairobi became a fully-fledged University 20 years ago and Prof Kiama said it should go beyond issuing degrees.

Earlier this week, the Atheists in Kenya Society lashed out at the University, asking the institution to focus on research and developing a vaccine for Covid-19.

This is after UoN announced plans to hold a virtual inter-denominational prayer day.

Through a statement signed by the society’s president Harrison Mumia, the atheists called out the University for seeking ‘supernatural’ solutions to human problems.

“World-class universities like the University of Oxford have recently developed and are currently testing a vaccine for Coronavirus.

“We find it odd that the University of Nairobi, an institution of higher learning, is institutionalizing prayer days,” read the statement in part.