How UON is redeeming Kenya’s image on global stage

Cases of corruption have been on the rise in Kenya. If we are to describe the current situation based on statistics of corruption perception indexes; the demon named graft would be a one man crime wave.

I will not delve into present corruption statistics and looting scandals plaguing our nation. It has rented the airwaves enough times and made us globally discernible. Albeit the wrong way.

While it may be true that increased cases of corruption dictate premonition of an eminent disaster striking hard on Kenya’s future; the same cannot be said when it comes to ranking of our local universities.

Pegged on that, I robustly feel that our universities can offer a chance to redeem our severely adulterated image.

This means we still have an opportunity to redeem our image as a nation at all levels. A university is a fundamental basic unit of life in any society. It has an assortment of disciplines under various faculties and colleges.

It is the nucleus of knowledge creation, problem solving and social integration. Furthermore, it is the place where a large number of individuals in prime productive age group are found at any point. It is a complete society within a larger society.

On this, I will briefly offer a working formula that the University of Nairobi (UoN) has been employing. Hopefully, we may learn a thing or two that will enable us fight corruption effectively.

See, among other things, it is through a collective effort of curbing corruption that the UoN has steadily risen to achieve premier position in East Africa, sixth place in Africa (according to latest webometrics ranking) and now placed as one of the top 100 places to study globally according to the sixth edition of QS World University Ranking. This is no mean feat.

The university, with guidance of the Vice-Chancellor, continuously develops and enforces strong anti-corruption codes of conduct and ethics that guide it in its functions and co-existence among stakeholders and staff members. These regulations are drawn from its vision, missions and core values. Over time, this tendency has built the element of patriotism and admiration of the values set.

Adoption and use of smart technology is another pivotal factor. It has made all the administrative functions and transactions more transparent and effective. For example, the recently launched Research Grants Management Information System.

Developed by its own information and communications technology staff members, this system has facilitated tremendous improvement on tracking and monitoring of ongoing and pending grant proposals and awards that are worth billions of shillings; enabling the university to stand a better chance in competing favourably worldwide.

From this we learn that apart from taking up smart technology in all its transactions, the Government should learn to embrace locally available skilled human resources in advancing its infrastructure development. It reduces the rising rate of unemployment that makes us vulnerable to corruption and its consequences.

The idea of performance contracting should not be left out either. Performance contracting, if appropriately administered, guarantees maximum utilisation of human resource skills, offers an opportunity to endorse integrity, ethics, accountability and responsibility.

Universities can conduct workshops and mentorship programmes that sensitise their staff members and stakeholders of the essence of performance contracting.

Our good government can possibly start off by taking on these three ideas in the interminable scuffle against corruption.

Understanding that future generations are nurtured in our universities, it is desirable for the Government to join our local universities in developing substantive efforts to expand systems and policies that prevent corruption, promote integrity and embrace appropriate behaviour and attitudes.