Speaking at Butula after inspection of the centre, the PS appreciated the leadership of of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, adding that he has stabilized the institution since he took over. “I commend Prof. Shibairo’s prudence in financial management.  The University is now on the right trajectory,” he said.

The VC, Prof. Solomon Shibairo receives the PS Amb. Simon Nabukwesi at Butula Campus

Prof. Shibairo pointed out that the Butula centre is very important to MMUST and that the University was keen on having it recognized by the Commission for University Education. “Butula is one of the places that we did not close during the restructuring of MMUST,” he revealed.

The event was also attended by a number of MMUST managers, including, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance, Prof. John Kuria Thuo, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic and Students Affairs, Prof. Hussein Golicha, and Director Science Park Innovation and Incubation Centre (SPIIC) Prof. Vincent Muoma, who was representing Deputy Vice Chancellor, Planning Research and Innovation, Prof. Charles Mutai.

Prof. John Shiundu shares a light moment with PS. Amb. Simon Nabukwesi as the Butula campus Co-coordinator, Dr. Joel Ogutu looks on.

Prof. Christine Mango, the founder and former Member of Parliament (MP) of the area, gave the genesis of the Butula Centre, pointing out that when she was MP she had a dream to establish a higher learning institution in order to beat the challenges facing her people, namely ignorance, poverty and diseases. “I set aside two (2) million shillings to start paying for this land. I had in mind setting up a higher institution of learning. My vision was that once we have land, we would construct an institution to take care of school leavers and transform the community,” she said

The Member of Parliament for Butula Constituency, Hon Joseph Oyula, who is among the most ardent supporters of the Butula Centre, handed over the concept report of Butlula Centre for Education Research and Development (BUCERED) to Amb. Nabukwesi. Hon, Oyula stressed on the need to ensure that it grows into a full-fledged University.  Prof. John Shiundu, Dr. Dina Were, Dr. Joel Ogutu, Mr. Eric Obuya and Mr. Patrice Lumumba who work closely with the MP, were among the committee members present at the event. There were also Butula Professionals, including, Prof. Florence Indede and Dr. George Ombakho..

The Deputy County Commissioner, Butula Sub-county Pamela Otieno reiterated the sentiments of the PS and the MP, saying that the area needed an institution such as Butula Centre. “We need to create a buzz about this place,” she urged.

The DVC A&F Prof. John Kuria Thuo addressing the meeting at Butula

Other notable MMUST personnel were the Registrar Academic Affairs-Prof. Thomas Sakwa, Registrar Planning, Research and Innovation- Prof. Alice Ndiema, PSSP Director - Prof. Benedict Alala, Director, ICT- Mr. Apollo Waliaro and Coordinator, Butula Campus-Dr. Joel Ogutu.

By Dr. Lydia Anyonje, Wilberforce Shiundu