University to reopen September in pilot program

The Kenya Highlands University has announced plans to reopen in September after the government closed learning institutions in March due to Covid-19 outbreak.  

The Kericho-based university announced it was ready to reopen following what it termed as compliance with Covid-19 guidelines laid down by the government.

Vice-Chancellor Wilson Langat (pictured) said they will begin with a few students in the pilot project.

“Since we will only have a student population of slightly over 1,000, we intend to resume normal learning activities,” he said.

Prof Langat said social distancing has been factored in the plan and hand-washing points set up. A single lecture hall will handle 20 students at most. If the reopening becomes a success, Langat added that they will turn the focus on fourth year students.

Elsewhere, the University of Kabianga (UoK) in Kericho County has joined the government in the fight against Covid-19 by venturing into mass production of sanitisers and handwashing soap.

The acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Planning, Research and Development, Maurice Oduor, said researchers from the School of Science and Technology were spearheading the initiative. 

“We apply the principles of organic chemistry to prepare the products,” he said, adding that it will be a pipe-dream to think of effective solution to Covid-19 without involving chemistry.

Already the university has handed over 600 pieces of hand-washing soaps and sanitisers to Governor Paul Chepkwony’s administration.

UoK Vice-Chancellor Wilson Kipngeno said the donations meet the Kenya Bureau of Standards requirements.

Meanwhile, at Belgut Technical and Vocational College, fashion and design students have also joined the fight against coronavirus. They plan to produce 10,000 masks weekly to be provided to locals freely.

The Standard visited the institution and found a team of volunteers of fashion and design trainees busy cutting and stitching the face masks. 

Zipporah Kuto, the principal, said they had decided to manufacture the face masks as their Corporate Social Responsibility programme. 

“We decided to manufacture the face masks to help locals protect themselves from the pandemic,” she said, adding that material used are sourced from Rivatex in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.