Masinde Muliro students object to virtual graduation plan

MMUST graduands during the university's 8th graduation ceremony in Kakamega County on July 25, 2014. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) will decide tomorrow whether to conduct an in-person or virtual graduation ceremony.

Over 6,000 students are expected to graduate during the institution's 18th graduation ceremony slated for December 9.

Earlier, the university administration issued contradicting statements through internal memos about the planned graduation, causing confusion among the students preparing for their big day.

A section of the learners wants the institution to revert to an in-person graduation ceremony to allow them to celebrate their achievements with families and friends.

Mansurr Musa, a Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication student said his family and friends were preparing to attend the event because the university had earlier indicated of a physical ceremony.

"I came one month early from my rural home in Tana River County to clear with the institution and I am looking forward to the graduation event," said Musa.

The student said he is disappointed after it emerged that the graduation event will be virtual. "We have been told that it will be a blended graduation event with only postgraduate students expected to attend in person," claimed Musa.

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST). [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

"I paid the graduation fee and embarked on plans to have my parents, relatives, and friends travel all the way from Tana River to celebrate with me, we have already spent so much money in preparations," he said.

Njambi Gaitho, another student from Murang'a said she had already paid the Sh6,500 graduation fee and made bookings for vehicles to ferry her family members to Kakamega for the event.

"We have been attending physical classes since last year and there are football matches and other events taking place all over, I wonder why the institution should insist on having a virtual graduation event?" she wondered.

"It will be hard to convince my parents that they are not required to witness my graduation yet I have been away for four years studying, paid school fees in full, and sat the exams. I have also been paying rent."

The covid-19 pandemic forced institutions to make such celebrations virtual to comply with protocols and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

MMUST acting Academic Registrar Thomas Sakwa released an internal memo on November 17, 2022, that read in part: "This is to formally invite all the 2022 graduands to the 18th graduation which will take place on Friday, December 9, 2022, at the MMUST Graduation Square-Kakamega. Consequently, each graduand will be issued a maximum of two invitation cards since the graduation will be face to face."

Later, the university issued an announcement indicating that only postgraduates, masters, and first-class holders will attend the ceremony.