MMUST Journalism and Mass Communication students and DeustcheWelle Akademie (DW) representatives from Germany had an opportunity to share their experiences on issues facing journalists in Kenya, on 18th October 2018. This was during an open forum organized by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC-MMUST).

MMUST is proud to announce its first ever Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Dr. Namenya Daniel Naburi, who will work under the international BRECcIA Project (Building Research Capacity for Sustainable Water and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa). BRECcIA brings together a multi-disciplinary team of researchers from the United Kingdom and Africa, led by the University of Southampton in partnership with Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, University of Malawi, University of Ghana, Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi and Technical University of Kenya. 

Dr. Namenya, who has completed his PhD studies at the MMUST School of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (SDMHA), will be in-charge of conducting research and analysis for the BRECcIA Project activities in Kenya. He has research and consultancy experience in the fields of environment and social development, public participation and administration. He is a product of the mentorship of the MMUST Director of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. John Obiri, the Co-Investigator in the BRECcIA Project. BRECcIA is a four-year RCUK Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) program which aims to develop research capacity across institutions that is self-sustaining and focused on improving food and water security for the poorest of society (http://www.gcrf-breccia.com). Regional research centers involved in the project include ICPAC (IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre), WATERNET, AGRHYMET, SARIMA (Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association) among other collaborators.

By Shiundu Wilberforce 
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MMUST has again asserted its ever-growing performance as a global research hotspot, and a key player in matters concerning Agriculture and Food Security. Our young researcher, Mr. Bonphace Collins Mangeni, won the Most Promising Innovation Award in tackling food insecurity in Africa, during the recent UK-Africa Food Security Symposium that was held at the Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, on 11th September 2018. 

Featuring the theme ‘Developing Effective and Equitable Research Partnerships to address Food Insecurity in Africa’, Mangeni won a prize of £500 for his ‘One Village One Poultry Vet’ project. This project is a socio-economic intensification framework, aimed at increasing indigenous poultry production by smallholder rural farmers for economic and dietary benefits in Kenya.
The symposium brought together participants of diverse backgrounds with research interests in Food Security. The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Debisi Araba, gave an excellent keynote address that focused on the challenges of Food Security in the continent. Discussions featured research partnerships and food security in Africa, as well as capacity building in African tertiary education institutions.
Mangeni, a PhD student in Crop Protection in the MMUST Department of Biological Sciences, was an awardee of the Norman E. Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program (Borlaug LEAP) in the year 2014, while pursuing MSc Crop Protection in the same department. This fellowship was through a mentorship partnership between CIAT-Uganda and Michigan State University, USA. Borlaug LEAP fellowship is part of initiatives of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, a champion of the Green Revolution, who in 1970 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for a lifetime of work to feed a hungry world.
As various institutions in Kenya are in the process of implementing the Presidential Big Four Agenda, Mangeni’s ‘One Village One Poultry Vet’ project will be among the most transformative Food Security initiatives that MMUST shall implement. MMUST wishes to see Mangeni grow from a champion of Food Security to a Hero who saves Africa from malnutrition, hunger and starvation, as we remember our National Heroes including the Late Henry Pius Masinde Muliro, during Mashujaa Day celebrations presided by His Exellency President Uhuru Kenyatta, on 20th October 2018, at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega.

Bonphace-Right (Kenya) with Dedeou 2nd right (Benin), Carlos-Left (Benin) and Carol-2nd left (UK) Winners of the Bioinnovation for Africa Pitching competition winners at the UK-Africa Food Security Symposium

By Shiundu Wilberforce 
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MMUST Athletics team emerged best in both men and women categories of the Kenya Universities Sports Association (KUSA) Western Region games held at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), on 30th September, 2018. MMUST managed to edge out their long time rivals, University of Kabianga, among other contestants that included JOOUST, Kaimosi, Kibabii, Kisii, Maseno and Rongo. This win grants the team a ticket to the National KUSA games to be held in Moi University Eldoret on 4th November, 2018. The team received a number of trophies and medals from various guests at the tournament amidst accolades. During the event, MMUST women Badminton and men Chess teams also excelled by emerging position 2 and 3 respectively. The teams expressed gratitude to the University Management for the support that has enabled them perform highly in sports.

MMUST netball players were among the university players who represented Kenya in the just concluded International University Sports Federation (FISU), held at Makerere University in Uganda, on 17th to 21st September 2018. Of the 7 players in the Kenyan team, 4 were drawn from MMUST, and they included Salim Supra, Abigael Mwajuma, Naomi Oichoe and the team captain Hellen Sinoya. The Kenyan team edged out Sri Lanka (62:33), USA (44:40) and Zimbabwe, with a margin of 20 goals, out of the 6 matches played in the tournament. MMUST goal shooter, Salim Supra scored the highest number of individual goals among the Kenyan players, who ended up in position 4 overall after Singapore, Uganda and South Africa respectively. The highly impressed Sinoya applaude the Kenyan team for the great potential displayed against opponents “the Kenyan team has displayed a great potential, despite the Singapore having come from a netball academy, they only managed to beat the Kenyan team with a margin of 1 goal” she said. She attributed this promising performance to teamwork and commitment among the Kenyan players.

MMUST held a week-long orientation of the newly enrolled first year students to acquaint them with university operations and procedures, from 27th September to 2nd October 2018. At the climax of the event, speakers drawn from the entire academic and non-academic departments, took the freshmen through experiences of an ideal MMUST student as a universal player.

In his address, the Vice Chancellor Prof Eng. Fred Otieno urged the young and energetic students joining MMUST to utilize the opportunity of being in this great university for the betterment of their lives. Prof Otieno advised them to remain focused by engaging in activities that could add value to their wellbeing. He reminded them that they are the custodians of their own destiny after moving away from their parents and teachers. “Being at the university is being in a free environment unlike the secondary schools and parents homes where you have come from. It is left to you to decide on how to organize your time by balancing between academics and social life” he said. Among the over three thousand (3000) students enrolled this year, are the pioneer students of the recently accredited School of Medicine that has greatly raised expectations regionally, nationally and beyond.

MMUST has been steadily growing in provision of excellent university education, training and research, with focus in building a competitive populace through technology and innovation. Students in this university have also excelled in various areas including sports and other extra-curricular activities. Besides, MMUST has been cultivating leadership ideals through Masinde Muliro University Students Organization (MMUSO), whose current President is Mr. Clifton Kisera with his Deputy Ms. Esther Nyaboke, the Secretary General Julius Musau and the Secretary Sports and Entertainment Bahati Mong'are.

The Fresh students will also have opportunities to engage in local tourism by visiting the tropical Kakamega Forest that hosts a variety of rare wildlife such as the Colobus Monkey and the Giant Blue Turaco, while also visiting the famous Crying Stone. Apart from Bullfighting, they will also get opportunities to be entertained by the Isukuti Dance practiced by the local Isukha and Idakho communities, which has been recognized by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as an Endangered Cultural Heritage.The Fresh students will also have a lifetime opportunity to attend the first ever Mashujaa Day celebrations held in Kakamega, which honors all Kenyan Heroes, presided by His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta and H.E. Governor Wycliffe Oparanya among other dignitaries, on 20th October 2018, at the modernized Bukhungu Stadium adjacent to the university. President Kenyatta and his Government has been focusing on improving livelihoods and the economy through the Big Four Agenda of Enhancing Manufacturing, Food Security and Nutrition, Universal Health Coverage and Affordable Housing. MMUST through training, research and innovation, is a key institution of higher learning posed to drive this Presidential Big Four Agenda.

MMUST and The John Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynaecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO) have laid strategies for utilizing various health facilities to provide free adolescent reproductive health services. The joint mission has brought on board various key players in the health sector, including the County Government of Kakamega, Family Health Options Kenya (FHOK), Aphia Halisi, Maendeleo ya wanawake, Great Lakes University of Kisumu (GLUK), European Society for the Study of Human Evolution (ESHE), Bukura Agricultural College, Kenya Medical Training Colleges among others.
In a stakeholders meeting held at the Golf hotel in Kakamega on 27th September 2018, the Executive Dean for the School of Nursing, Prof. Col (Rtd) John M.O. Okoth said the network could help address many challenges faced by adolescents in Kenya. He said the university is committed in working with the community to uplift the lives of the youth by imparting relevant skills. Focusing on the Presidential Big Four Agenda on universal health care, he urged the community to take advantage of MMUST health-related programs and guide their children to enrol into the Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.
MMUST staff present in the meeting included Director Career Services, Dr. Teresa Akoth, Director Corporate Communications and Marketing, Dr. Dennis Ochieno, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Patrick Wanguche, Community Liaisons Officer, Mr. Oscar Waswa, and the activity coordinators Roseline Abalabwa and Grace Olwenyo. Other participants included Beatrice Kwachi (JHPIEGO), Felistus Ekutu (Ministry of Health), and Richard Nyamai, the deputy County director of public health in Kakamega County. Participants thanked JHPIEGO for providing resources towards the meeting and other related activities.

MMUST technologists have positively welcomed the move by the University management to advance TVET programmes as a way of enhancing skilled manpower and creating opportunities for self-employment. This was during a workshop on ‘The Role of Technical Staff in Enhancing Capacity in Teaching, Training, Research and Innovation, held at the Busia Agricultural Training Centre from 25th - 26th of July 2018. “This is an opportunity for technologists to exploit their full potential through TVET-based programmes,” said Mr. Nicholas Kitungulu, a Senior Technologist in the Department of Biological Sciences.

While addressing the technologists, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Eng. Fred Otieno challenged the technologists to be at the forefront of research and innovation. “In the developed world major innovations are actualized by technologists because these are the people who spend most of their time in laboratory and workshops,” he said.