MMUST men soccer team came top in the just concluded Kenya Universities Sports Association (KUSA) football championship, 2018. The finals, played at Kibabii University over the weekend saw MMUST player, Bramwel Bukono scored a winning brace against Machakos University in a match that ended 2:1.

Various Agricultural-based organizations had the opportunity to showcase to the farmers how to do appropriate farming during the farmer’s field day that was held at the University Farm on 11th May, 2018.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Fred Otieno, gracing the occasion welcomed exhibitors, donors, staff, farmers, other stakeholders and all the participants at the event. He appealed to the farmers to work towards eradicating poverty by producing surplus. He noted that the University intends to host the exhibitions annually and extend participance to the larger Western Region and the Rift Valley Region. He said that the University pledges its support to the County Government and farmers in offering expertise through volunteering and consultancy and emphasized on the need for the farmers to network and share ideas among themselves.
Through a speech read by the Chief Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Cooperatives, Jeremiah Okello Namunyu, the Deputy Governor Kakamega County, Prof. Philip Museve Kutima urged the University to support the County Government in achieving its goal of sustainable development and food security in the region in line with the government Big Four Agenda. He noted that the Ministry of Agriculture recognizes the role played by the MMUST experts towards promoting Agriculture and urged farmers to adopt appropriate technologies derived from Agricultural Research. 
Prof. Hassan Were, the Dean, School of Agriculture and Veterinary Technology (SAVET), noted that this was an opportunity to display to farmers how farming is done. He further noted that a larger percentage of the Kenyan population live in rural areas and largely depend on agriculture as the main economic activity.He therefore called upon the County Government to invest heavily in Agriculture by strengthening Agricultural Research and Investment for enhanced productivity.
Other officials who graced the occasion include: the County Director, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Johnstone Imbira and the Vice Chair Agriculture Committee Kakamega County, Mr. Paul Ashichi, who noted that The County Government through the Ministry has put in place procedures of reaching the local community and measure to ensure that farmers were enlightened on methods of managing the destructive army worms invasion. 

MMUST played a vital role in hosting the first ever Annual Career and Job Expo 2018 that saw over 5000 youth in attendance, on 18th to 19th May 2018. This was part of collaborative efforts by the Office of the Kakamega Senator, Hon. Cleophas Malala, and MMUST management led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Fred Otieno. This was aimed at empowering the youth and ensuring that career knowledge is directly imparted on them for a better generation.

MMUST is determined and dedicated to achieve the Vision 2030 goals as an academic institution in the Country. By 2030, the country targets to achieve 10% forest cover in a move that will see more trees planted thus, increased green cover in the Country. The National Tree Planting day, 12th May, 2018, led by President Uhuru Kenyatta had a theme dubbed, “Panda Miti, Penda Kenya.”

Speaking on the National Tree Planting Day, MMUST VC Prof. Fredrick Otieno applauded the participants for showing concern to not only their Country but also to humanity at large. Prof. Otieno asked the members to continue with the tree planting activity at their households to facilitate the 10% tree cover target even before year 2030.

Alice Anyona, the Kenya Forest Services (KFS) Kakamega Sub County officer, thanked the members for availing themselves and reminded them of the great importance that came with protecting the trees. Mrs. Anyona attributed fresh air and rains to the presence of trees and thus urged participants not to solely depend on KFS to plant and protect trees; rather they should make it a personal effort to do so. According to her, adequate supply of water in the Country can be achieved through planting many trees and protecting the available ones. Furthermore, she noted that KFS has asked residents living around the forests to avoid destruction of trees in their reach and instead look after them. 

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology hosted the International Nurses Week on Wednesday 9th May, 2018 as a way of boosting President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four Agenda for the Country. The event’s theme was dubbed: “Nurses a Voice to Lead- Health is a Human Right: Access, Investment and Economic Growth.”

When marking this year’s International Nurses Week, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Fred Otieno, through his speech read on his behalf by the DVC (PR&I) Prof. William Shivoga, applauded the phenomenal efforts taken by the nurses to save precious lives of Kenyans. Prof. Otieno pledged to put extra efforts to advance the School of Nursing by improving the training of nurses on clinical care to boost graduation of skilled nurses. He also said the University was considering introducing new technologies and programs into the training of nurses and urged the community to cooperate with the nurses in hospitals to boost their morale and aid in swift service delivery. His message was read to the nurses, both practicing and the student nurses across the region.

The Kenya National Union of Nurses Kakamega Branch Secretary Mr. Renson Bulunya urged his colleagues to work together and achieve their core purpose of taking care of patients professionally. Mr. Bulunya also applauded the nurses for upholding the medical ethos all through in their line of duty.

Speaking at the event, Kakamega County Health CEC Mrs. Rachel Okumu, applauded the University for giving major priority to the health docket correspondingly to what the County government was doing and promised to work with MMUST at improving the School of Nursing.

Mrs. Okumu speaking at the event asked nurses to maintain high level of professionalism and oblige to act according to the Nurses Act and Code of Ethics

MMUST RFC continued their fantastic performance in the Nationwide Western Region Conference-A league by crushing Sheywe RFC 46:6 on Saturday 17th March 2018. This extended their lead in the seven-team competition to 50 points. The champions have now created a huge gap of 20 points from their closest rival Webuye RFC.

Much argument has been put across on the underlying reasons for the success of Kenyans and Ethiopians in middle and long-distance athletics. Great names including Kipchoge Keino, Tegla Loroupe, Paul Tergat have emerged as athletic giants from Kenya. From Ethiopia, Abebe Bikila, Tirunesh Dibaba, Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele have conquered the track. Pondering on the argument, a MMUST Sports Science Scholar Dr. Peter Bukhala and his colleague Dr. Benoit Gaudin of French Institute for Research and Development (IRD) delved into the discourse. “Should this athletic success of Kenyans and Ethiopians be explained only from a genetic point of view?” the two scholars asked. 

During the 1st East Africa Running Athletics Conference in Addis Ababa 2016, five MMUST staff brought their socio-cultural perspectives that were published in the book titled “Kenya and Ethiopia Athletics: Towards an Alternative Scientific Approach” with Benoit Gaudin and Bezabih Wolde as editors, and published by IRD. The MMUST authors each with a book chapter included Dr. Peter Bukhala, Mr. Issa Kweyu, Dr. Eunice Majanga, Dr. Rose Opiyo and Dr. James Ouda. The chapters provide alternative arguments based on socio-cultural explanations to their athletic success. 
The book is a product of the 1st East Africa Running Athletics Conference, with thematic areas that include history of running in Kenya and Ethiopia, sociology of running, economics, politics, anthropology, disability, gender and sports for development. The book will be launched in April 2018 in Nairobi