MMUST First-Year Civil And Structural Engineering Students Complete 6-Week Workshop Practice, Gaining Valuable Skills For The Competitive Job Market
Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology’s first-year Civil and Structural Engineering students have successfully completed a six-week workshop practice, which saw them equipped with essential hands-on skills for the competitive job market. To mark the end of the programme, the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering hosted a closing ceremony on 23rd June, 2026. The Department’s Chairperson, Dr. Benard Omondi, addressed the students, who also had the opportunity to network with industry professionals, including Ms. Christine Mutayi and Ms. Annette Baraka from the Sigalagala National Polytechnic. The intensive workshop practice kicked off one week after the conclusion of the second-semester examinations.
During the ceremony, Dr. Omondi congratulated the students for completing both their first academic year and the six-week workshop practice. “The workshop practice may have appeared simple to some of you as you spent time in practical activities such as fitting, welding, carpentry, masonry, concrete works, surveying and machine operations. However, I assure you that what you have just completed is one of the most critical foundations of engineering,” he noted. He advised the students to build strong study habits, protect their reputation, take care of their health and represent the Department well.
The Sigalagala National Polytechnic’s Ms. Christine Mutayi gives her remarks during the ceremony.
Similarly, the industry professionals from Sigalagala encouraged the students to work smart and volunteer in active construction sites to gain experience while building networks in the industry. Echoing these sentiments, Ms. Baraka urged the students to invest more in their engineering training in order to develop into highly competent engineers.
Department technicians, Mr. Caleb Kibet and Mr. Solomon Shimala were also present during the closing ceremony. Both urged the students to apply the practical skills gained from the workshop to build a strong foundation for the five-year course that they have just begun.
Mr. Solomon Shimala speaks at the event.
Speaking at the event, one of the students thanked the University for organizing the workshop. “MMUST has done a great job in providing us with the opportunity to translate theory into practice, which greatly enhances our professional competence,” he stated.
As the ceremony concluded, the students left with renewed confidence and a clearer vision of their academic and professional journeys. The Workshop practice reflects MMUST’s continued efforts to provide quality, industry-oriented training, reaffirming its position as a leading institution in producing highly skilled engineers ready to excel in the competitive job market.
By Wangari Wambugu and Ingarate Baridi
Photos by James Nyachoti
