Kenya: Former President Mwai Kibaki has challenged universities in Kenya and East Africa to strengthen science, mechanical and civil engineering courses so as to promote industrialization in the region.
Speaking in Kakamega on Friday during the ninth graduation ceremony at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kibaki pointed out that industrialisation is the only way to solve problems such as unemployment and insecurity in East African countries.
“Industrialisation is important and our universities should embrace it. Without industrialisation Kenya and East Africa will not find solutions facing our people. I am optimistic that industrialisation will address the tragedy of run-away mass unemployment and insecurity,’’ said Kibaki who is also the university chancellor.
Kibaki observed that industrialisation will also improve the agriculture sector especially in agri-business that requires global approaches in expansion and technology.
Prof Fredrick Otieno, MMUST VC said the university has partnered with World Bank to set up a disaster management and humanitarian assistance resource centre in Budalangi in an effort to find solutions to frequent floods in the area.
“I urge scholars, engineers, researchers and the community to utilize the facility and strive to come up with solutions based approaches pertaining flood problems in Budalangi,’’ stated Prof Otieno. The VC announced that a talent school will be operational from next month in the institution.
Emuhaya MP Wilber Otichillo said plans are underway in Parliament to amend the Procurement Act to ensure that 30 per cent of tenders in counties and national governments are given to young graduates.
“The current procurement Act is so biased and we intend to rectify that in order for the youth who are majority get the 30 per cent in tenders in the two arms of government. I urge the graduates to focus on creating jobs for themselves through the knowledge they have gained in university,’’ he said.
Some 1,383 graduands were awarded doctorates, masters, bachelor degrees, diplomas and certificates.
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