Former President Mwai Kibaki unveils Sh4.5b library at Makerere

Former President Mwai Kibaki has challenged intellectuals in East Africa to fast track regional integration.

The former President maintained that the region’s intellectuals are well placed to play an integral role in building a wealthier, safer and more united East African Community (EAC).

“Once sufficiently motivated and acorded a forum, our intellectuals will, no doubt, play an enormous role in building a wealthier, safer and more united East African Community,” he said.

While delivering a keynote address during the launch of Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library at Makerere University project, he said intellectuals should summon self-drive and downright dutifulness in asserting their intellectual capital.

The mega project, expected to cost about Sh4.5 billion ($50 million) and named in the honour of the retired President will host the Mwai Kibaki Endowed Chair in Economics and the East African Mwai Kibaki Centre for Leadership, Public Finance and Policy.

Speaking during the occasion, Makerere University Chancellor Prof Mondo Kagonyera paid glowing tribute to the support Kibaki has extended to university thus far. He thanked Kibaki for accepting to be associated with the Presidential Library.

Makerere Chancellor said that Kibaki’s acquiescence would go a long way in immortalising the former President’s contribution in his 50 year period of public service not only to Kenya but in the region.

Makerere University Council Chairman Dr Charles Wana-Etyem stressed that the Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library will significantly transform the institution by providing the required leadership in the region.

Kibaki said: “In my view, what is lacking is deliberate, driven and downright dutifulness of our intellectuals to invest imagination and ideas in the process of remaking the East African Community.”

The former Head of State noted that institutions of higher learning have the capacity to provide the forum for intellectuals’ engagement.

Kibaki challenged the Inter-University Council for East Africa to find ways of tapping into the region’s intellectual capital.

“Perhaps, the Inter-University Council for East Africa, itself, an instrument of the East African Community, can assist in creating a reservoir of our region’s intellectual capital,” Kibaki said.