MMUST hosted the fifth General Committee Meeting of the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE), Western Kenya Branch, on Wednesday, 18th July 2018. The members deliberated on matters of industrial relations, infrastructure, security, state of the economy and political developments among other issues.
MMUST and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) are working on a collaborative study to address the growing problem of drug and substance abuse in Western Kenya. The study was initiated in a meeting held on 17th July 2018, between the Vice Chancellor Prof. Eng. Fred Otieno, with the MMUST researchers Dr. Donald Kokonya and Dr. Dennis Ochieno; and the KEMRI Project Principal and Co-Principal Investigators, Dr. Jane Mbui, a specialist in Internal Medicine and Public Health, and the Medical Sociologist Dr. Prisca Otambo, respectively.
MMUST has enhanced its efforts in imparting good attitude in science subjects among secondary school students. Various MMUST science experts have been on outreach missions in schools across the Western and Nyanza regions. In the field of biology, a young Biotechnology Scholar, Mr. Dennis Omayio, has been on a mission to promote emerging concepts in the biology field to help boost student interest in the subject. Mr. Omayio, an alumnus of the famous Alliance Boys High School, was on a mission in various schools in Siaya County, with a major stop over at St. Francis Rang’ala Girls Secondary School on 9th July 2018.
MMUST and the Kenya Council of Emergency Medical Trainers (KCEMT) agreed to work together towards promoting Paramedic Science program offered at the University. This was during a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony, held at the MMUST Nairobi Campus in Harambee House on 10th July 2018. Through the MoU, KCEMT is now a stakeholder in the MMUST programs including Bachelor of Paramedic Science as well as short courses offered by the University through the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedical Sciences (SONMAPS).
The university was represented by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Eng. Fred Otieno, together with the Dean SONMAPS, Prof. Lt. Col. (Rtd) John Okoth, Lecturer and Researcher in Reproductive and Child Health, Dr. Tecla Sum, and the Nairobi Campus staff Mr. Norbert Borruett and Ms. Emily Kadikinyi. KCEMT was represented by the Secretary General Mr. Benjamin Mwangi and the Director General Ms. Eunice Kamau. Also present, was the Coordinator National Disaster Management Unit, Mr. Pius Masai. MMUST Nairobi Campus Coordinator, Mr. Peter Wawire, raised optimism in the MoU, saying “This collaboration with KCEMT presents the University with an exciting opportunity to diversify its products making it a unique brand in Kenya and beyond”.
“Use Your God-Given Potential to Improve Lives” Rev. Dr. Willis Otuya
MMUST Chaplaincy held Interdenominational Live Church Service on Citizen TV, on Sunday 22nd July, 2018. Led by the Chaplains Reverend Dr. Willis Otuya and Father Dr. Kizito Muchanga, the service was based on the theme “Utilizing God-Given Potential.” Following opening prayers by Fr. Dr. Kizito who holds a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies, the Preacher of the Day, Rev. Dr. Otuya delivered a powerful message on God-Given Potential and Authority that was granted to human beings during the creation of Adam and Eve, and is a blessing accorded by God to everyone at conception.
“There is Potential in God to bring form where it did not exist, and God transferred that Potential by creating us in His own image” Rev. Dr. Otuya preached. He urged the congregation and people around the world to make use of their Potential to be agents of positive change and peace ambassadors. Rev. Dr. Otuya, a Senior Lecturer and Researcher of Entrepreneurship in the MMUST School of Business and Economics, lamented on cases of many people with Potential to make the world a better place, but have failed to utilize the God-Given gift to improve their own lives and the lives of others. “It is so sad that we have many people moving with the title ‘doctor’ yet they have never treated any sickness, engineers who have never done any construction, and worse, in our universities, are those who claim to be scholars yet they have never done any research and never even published a single paper” Rev. Dr. Otuya preached.
Rev. Dr. Otuya further preached that Kenya has not yet realized its God-Given Potential, because many people utilize such Potential wrongly. “God-Given Potential can be misused to harm others, just like in the Book of Genesis 4:1-4, Cain who was given Potential to till the land, instead of building it, he became jealous and hacked to death his own brother Abel, who was flourishing by utilizing his God-Given Potential of being a livestock keeper” he said. Continuing, he said that our Country Kenya has been facing a lot of problems because of people who utilize their God-Given Potential to do wrong things and harm others. “Corruption scandals are on the rise, and people have become so wicked and rebellious to God that they do not respect any authority. This is why you hear of looting in the National Youth Service, Ango-Leasing Scandal, Goldenberg Scandal, Mercury in Sugar and so on; we have to change” he added.
While concluding, Rev. Dr. Otuya urged the worshippers and nation to utilize their God-Given Potential to be Agents of Peace. He appealed to the audience to extend the handshake and reach out to those whom we may have wronged. “Let me tell you, the Handshake is a Biblical concept, it is spiritual and it brings healing. May God Bless His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta and Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga for Utilizing their God-Given Leadership Potential and delivering the famous Handshake that is bringing healing to this Nation” he prayed.
In his thanks giving remarks, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Fred Otieno praised the Chaplaincy and Citizen TV Crew for organizing the Great Interdenominational Service. “Use your God-Given Potential to help the underprivileged in the society, as I wish you success in your examinations that start tomorrow” said Prof. Otieno.
The Church Service was followed by a wonderful Bambika Live Show on Citizen TV, organized by Kambua, Holy Dave, DJ Gee Gee, Timeless Noel, Malik, Bruce Newton, Smith Boy among others. MMUSO Secretary for Sports and Entertainment Mr. Bahati Mong'are thanked the University Management for hosting Bambika, saying that students look forwarded for more such events from Citizen TV and Royal Media Services.
MMUST and Ball State University (BSU) rolled out plans to establish a Sickle Cell Anaemia Center in Western Kenya, on 9th July, 2018. This is part of strategies to help mitigate the devastating effects of this inherent blood disorder, which affects many people in Western Kenya, yet remains poorly understood in the entire African continent.
MMUST has taken a major role in addressing the persistent problem of food insecurity, by promoting the cultivation of drought tolerant root tuber crops in Western Kenya. This is part of the extension functions of the University, majorly entrenched through various MMUST satellite campuses, study centres and field stations. In Vihiga County, MMUST has established a farmer-participatory sweet potato germplasm multiplication centre at the Ebunangwe Field Station.
MMUST hosted the First Biophysical Society Conference, which focused on Harnessing Scholarly Biophysical Potential in Africa, on 6th July 2018. Biophysics is an interdisciplinary Science that applies the approaches and methods of Physics in the study Biological Systems. The interim President of the Biophysical Society (Kenya), Mr. Philip Amuyunzu Mang’are, a lecturer and researcher in the department of Physics (MMUST), gave an overview of the Biophysical Society. “This Biophysics discipline covers all scales of biological organization, from molecular to organismic levels, through to populations and ecosystems at large” he said.