Celebration as Makueni gets first private university

Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana lays a foundation stone for Lukenya University.

Makueni, Kenya: The Lukenya group of schools has established a university in Makueni County after what it describes as many years of neglect by main universities in the country.

The university, based in Kibwezi, is an offshoot of the Lukenya College’s Kambu campus, which is associated with retired high court judge and one-time Makueni MP Kasanga Mulwa.

Justice Mulwa (rtd), who is the chairman of the Board of Management, said the university college is only awaiting the letter of Interim Authority to become a fully fledged university able to roll out degree courses.

Mulwa said the institution, built on more than a thousand acres, will revolutionise the education sector by embracing practical skills and innovativeness with a view to addressing the global food security, energy development and health.

Dry land

Mulwa said the institution plans to embrace green technology in production of skilled manpower that is able to work with the available resources to address the dry land agriculture currently practiced in the country.

The institution’s founding steering committee, comprising Mulwa, former Central Bank Governor Andrew Mulei and Prof Chacha Nyaigoti Chacha, says it will offer three degree courses – Bachelor of Science in Dry Land Agriculture, Bachelor of Commerce/Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts, Education, in the first year.

And Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, who officiated the unveiling of the university yesterday, said his county government would invest heavily in infrastructure in and around the institution to ensure its success and rise to international standards, in a Public-Private Partnership model.

“Resources shall be availed to ensure all access roads to this institution are modernised and become all-weather. Supply of electricity via the grid to the institution shall also be a major priority for the county government,” said Prof Kibwana, adding that his administration would partner with the institution to develop alternative energy sources by creating a centre of excellence.