Former MP Bifwoli Wakoli to graduate with master's degree in Education

Students of Kibabii University during a practical class. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

At least 1,202 candidates will graduate during Kibabii University’s second graduation ceremony today.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is the institution's chancellor, is expected to grace the occasion.

Among the graduands is former Assistant Minister Bifwoli Wakoli, who is expected to graduate with a master's degree in Education (History).

According to the university's chancellor Isaac Ipara, the university has been churning out graduates who are able to fit in labour market.

“Some of our students were selected to join presidential digital team,” he told The Standard.

“We offer market-driven courses... Our students have been able to win scholarships to further their studies abroad and, as a university, we are grateful,” said Prof Ipara.

He said the university received funding from the National Research Fund, which he noted was used for purchasing equipment for the School of Computing and Informatics.

“Our target is to have modern facilities to facilitate quality education at the university. We also strive to support the community because we want to position ourselves as an institution that offers solutions to problems facing the society,” he said.

The university, which opened its doors for admission in 2013 with 333 students, currently has an enrolment of 7,500 students.

Before being awarded a charter in 2015, it was a constituent college of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST).

“Kibabii University flagship programme is ICT and hence over eight laboratories have been set aside for ICT purposes. The university currently expects funding from many collaborators, mainly towards equipping its laboratories," the vice chancellor said.

He said Kibabii had ploughed millions in infrastructure expansion to enhance quality of education.

The university has since launched a multi-million state-of-the art tuition block phase two, ultra-modern library, multi-purpose hall and administration block.

Prof Ipara said investment in infrastructure targets to solve the issue of space and offer modern facilities for training.

“The modern building has adequate space for 26 staff offices, 24 laboratories, media centre and studio for journalism students, a cafeteria and a lecture theatre that has a capacity of 800 people,” said Prof Ipara.

He said the university is partnering with private investors to provide adequate and suitable accommodation for hundreds of students at the university.

He said the institution offers accommodation to 1,500 students yet it has a population of over 6,500, with most of them residing outside the university.

“The Government gave the university some funds to put up a hostel for female students but we are still faced with a challenge in accommodating all the learners. We are engaging private investors to support us put up hostels,” he said.

The university is in the process of automating all its services including teaching, admissions, library services among others to boost innovation among students and staff.

He said the university targets to expand income generating unit to become self-sustaining in future.

It has embarked on Sh100 million community water project.

The project will help deal with perennial water shortage problem at the university and the environs.

“We will supply water to the university and to the community around us,” said Ipara.