MMUST team at Kisumu hotel during the Strategic Plan Review Workshop.
Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology has carried out Strategic Plan Review for 2022/2023 to 2026/2027, geared towards charting out the roadmap on which the institution will be anchored for the next five years. The well attended workshop, which was organized by the Division of Planning, Research and Innovation, through the office of Registrar, Planning, Research and Innovation, involved close to 80 participants from diverse departments in the University. The two- day workshop that was conducted from Thursday 19th to Friday, 20th January, 2023, was officially opened by MMUST’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Solomon Shibairo.
The participants of this important workshop, who were drawn from various departments, directorates and sections, were taken through the Strategic Plan’s historical background, the key fundamental issues, situational analysis as well as the key result areas and implementation framework. The facilitators included Prof. Alice Ndiema, Prof. Judah Ndiku, Prof. Robert Egessa, and Dr. Dishon Wanjere.
Speaking at the workshop, Prof. Solomon Shibairo stressed on the need to leverage on ICT by infusing it in all our programs and processes in the University. He pointed out that during this period, MMUST, must align its plans with the 5 pillars underpinning the operations of the current government, which are: Agriculture, Healthcare, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Economy, Digital Superhighway and Creative Economy , Housing and Settlement.
Prof. Solomon Shibairo following proceedings during the Strategic Plan Review workshop in Kisumu Hotel.
“Let us invest in unique programmes such as Biomechanics, Mechatronics and Gold Mining. We must take advantage of our networks and linkages to steer the development of our University development projects such as the Student Centre, Senior Common Room, and the 10,000 units promised by Kenya’s President, H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto. However, we should not over- rely on the government for funding. Instead, every University must look for alternative sources of income. That is why MMUST established the Chancellor’s Endowment Fund,” stated the Vice Chancellor.
The Registrar, Planning Research and Innovation, Prof Alice Ndiema presenting during the Strategic Plan Review Workshop in Kisumu.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Planning, Research and Innovation, Prof. Charles Mutai, whose Division is steering the review process, revealed that the drafting of this Strategic Plan started in July 2022 by a team of experts from the University and that this Workshop was organized to allow interrogation of the document by stakeholders and heads of various sections for purposes of ownership and quality.
Reiterating the importance of specifying what is to be delivered by the Strategic Plan, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance- Prof. Kuria Thuo as well as the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs- Prof. Hussein Golicha encouraged participants to ensure that their areas are clearly stipulated in the document so that implementation is straight forward and guaranteed.
“The key success factors for all Strategic Plans is implementation. Culture eats Strategy for breakfast. This means that the manner in which the implementation is done informs whether or not the objectives of the Strategic Plan will be achieved,” advised Prof. Thuo.
The 2022/2023 - 2026/2027 Strategic Plan Review Workshop was spearheaded by Prof. Charles Mutai. Other members of the Stategic Plan Committee were: Prof. Alice Ndiema, Prof. Judah Ndiku, Prof. Robert Egessa, Dr. Dishon Wanjere, Mr. Antony Sang, Dr. Eglay Tsuma, Dr. Lydia Anyonje, Dr. Catherine Aurah, Dr. Immaculate Ayodo, CPA Elkanah Kinyor, Ms. Irene Aluku, Mr. Jeffry Miima, Mr. Canon Odhiambo and Mr. Shiundu W. Masafu. Other critical members involved in the organization of the Strategic Plan Review Workshop included Ms. Florence Ogwang, and Mr. Eick Wendo.
Chairman UASU, Dr. Jairus Odawa discusses a point during the workshop
The Strategic Plan will support the positive transformation of the University’s operations and procedures in addition to providing strategic direction for this period. As the workshop came to a close today, it was clear that the gist of the Strategic Plan is to re-engineer the University’s programs and processes in tandem with the evolving dynamics in the global higher education sector. This robust Strategic Plan has the potential to catapult MMUST into the realm of higher education giants.
By Lydia Anyonje and Shiundu Masafu
Photos by Shiundu Masafu
