Mugenda awarded by French government for growth record

Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Olive Mugenda has been honoured by the French government with a coveted award.

The French Ordre des Palmes Académiques was presented Sunday to the VC at Kenyatta University by French Ambassador to Kenya HE Rémi Maréchaux.

Prof Mugenda was honoured for her exceptional and transformational development record at the university. She was also recognised as the first woman to hold the VC position of a public university and to have achieved great results. The French government further observed that Mugenda has encouraged the development of great co-operation with French institutions in the field of culture, industry and higher education.

The award is a national order of France that recognises individuals who have rendered eminent and distinguished service in education and the promotion of French education and culture. Mugenda thanked the French government for honouring her.

"I want to emphasise the value of hard work, self-sacrifice and inclusive stakeholder participation to realise institutional change," she said.