MMUST Chairperson, SDMHA Outreach, Prof. Josephine Ngaira Steers Another Humanitarian Intervention to Transform Livelihoods in Tombo Ward, Kakamega County

MMUST Chairperson of Outreach in the School of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (SDMHA), Prof. Josephine Ngaira, on 21st October 2022, steered another Humanitarian Intervention to transform livelihoods in Tombo Ward, Kakamega County.   This initiative attracted key players including medical officers from the University clinic, MMUST Optometrists as well as a group of SDMHA students pursuing certificate courses. 

 According to Prof. Ngaira, the School conducts Humanitarian Intervention outreach every semester where they engage SDMHA students at different levels. She noted that with support from the Dean, School of Humanitarian Assistance, Dr. Ferdinard Nabiswa, they contribute to fund their Outreaches.  They also have a team that carries out needs assessment to inform the selection of the community where the Outreach should be carried out. This team consists of Mr. Peter Otsianda, Ms. Betty Opilo, Mr. Leonard Nyongesa and Ms. Jane Kemuma.

MMUST in Collaboration With UNFPA and County Government of Kakamega Educates Students on Gender-Based Violence and Selfcare During Menstruation

MMUST, UNFPA and the County Government of Kakamega teams during the visit.

MMUST’s School of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (SDMHA) in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the County Government of Kakamega on 19^th October 2022, educated young students on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and self-care during menstruation. This was evident during their visit to Nyayo Tea Zone Primary and Shieywe Secondary Schools to campaign against GBV and donate sanitary towels.

The event spearheaded by the Lecturer, Department of Emergence and Management Studies, Dr. Margaret Iyaya who was representing the Dean, SDMHA, Dr. Ferdinand Nabiswa saw disaster risk reduction among the primary and secondary school students. Along with the teams were MMUST Scouts, Red Cross Society, the Disaster and Environment Management Association (DEMA) as well as Achievers Movement.

MMUST Donates One Thousand Two Hundred And Twenty-three Mattresses To Kakamega Main Prison

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) on Tuesday, 18^th October 2022, donated one thousand two hundred and twenty-three mattresses to the Kakamega main prison. This exercise was led by the University Disposal Committee chairman, Prof. Robert Egessa.

Prof. Egessa noted that this exercise is part of community outreach to improve the livelihoods of inmates and the services offered by the Kakamega Prison. It is also a method of disposal referred to as ‘transfer to another public entity.’ 

MMUST Partners with Konza Technopolis in Building a Digital Economy

Prof. Solomon Shibairo exchanging signed partnership MoUs with the Konza Technopolis CEO, Eng. John Tanui, flanked by the MMUST DVC PRI Prof Charles Mutai and the Konza Technopolis Corporate Secretary, Ms. Gladys Koletit

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) has signed a partnership MoU with Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA). The partnership, which was signed on Monday 17^th October 2022, will enable the two institutions to collaborate in Career Development, Community Outreach, Research, and Innovation. This partnership will also contribute to accelerating the digital transformation of the Kenyan economy as per the presidential vision.

Kakamega County First Lady Pays Courtesy Call to MMUST VC to Discuss Possible Areas of Collaboration

The first lady of Kakamega County, Prof. Janet Kassily Barasa, has today, 18^th October, 2022, paid a courtesy call to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Solomon Shibairo, to discuss possible areas of collaboration between the University as well as the County government.

Prof. Janet Barasa, who is also a professor of religion and culture in the MMUST’s Department of Social Science Education (SSE), pointed out teenage pregnancies, Gender-based Violence (GBV) and sickle-cell anemia as some of the areas that the two (2) institutions can partner in.

The first lady is currently one of the panelists in a PhD Thesis defense that involves a student in the SSE Department.

MMUST Optometrists Offer Free Eye Screening to Public Service Vehicle Drivers in Commemoration of World Sight Day

MMUST Optometrists in collaboration with the Optometrist Association of Kenya (OAK), Ministry of Health, Essilor Group, Vision Spring Foundation, and KK Optics, offered free eye screening to Public Service Vehicle (PSV) drivers. This event held on Thursday, 13^th October 2022 at Kakamega Town- Bus Terminus was to commemorate World Sight Day whose theme was ‘Love Your Eyes’. This key event is celebrated every second Thursday of October annually.

United Nations Trains MMUST Library Staff on Access to Its E- Resources for Sustainable Development

United Nations (UN) on Thursday, 13^th October 2022 trained MMUST library staff and students on access to its e- resources for sustainable development. This was evident during the visit by the UN team led by the Information Management Assistant- UN Center Nairobi, Mr. Tirus Wainaina to the UN Information Corner at the University Library. The event was organized by the Ag. Librarian, Mr. Vincent Chibini was geared towards linking MMUST's e- library to the UN digital library, creating free access to the UN online resources, and creating awareness about the UN.

MMUST Picked to Host the 8th National Symposium on Disaster Risk Reduction 2022

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology has been picked to host the two-day 8^th National Symposium on Disaster Risk Reduction 2022. The event, which was officially opened by the Governor of Kakamega County, H.E FCPA Fernandes Barasa, and attended by the MMUST Vice Chancellor, Prof. Solomon Shibairo, kicked off today, 11^th October, 2022 and will go up to tomorrow, 12^th October, 2022 at the University Multipurpose Hall (MPH).

The highlight of the symposium will be the celebration of the 7^th International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), slated to take place on Thursday, 13^th October, 2022 at the Bukhungu Stadium grounds, Kakamega County. The theme of the event is ‘Early Warning and Early Action for All.’

“Kakamega County is privileged to be the host of this year’s twin events-the 8^th National Symposium on Disaster Risk Reduction 2022 as well as the 7^th International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. As a County, we are ready and prepared to collaborate with the international agencies, the National Government and other stakeholders to tackle existing and future disasters. Welcome to Kakamega County, the green jewel!” said H.E FCPA Fernandes Barasa.

The Governor also pointed out that climate change has affected the agricultural sector of the County and urged the residents of Kakamega to partner with the County and institutions such as MMUST to ensure that they conserve the environment, especially the Kakamega Tropical Rain Forest.

The Vice Chancellor gives his remarks at the 8th National Symposium on Disaster Risk Reduction 2022.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Prof. Shibairo revealed that MMUST has the School of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance, earmarked for training various professionals in disaster management. “It is an honour for MMUST to host both the symposium and the IDDRR Day. Let us always be prepared to handle disasters. MMUST has the expertise and is committed to train manpower to address disasters,” stated the Vice Chancellor.

The event has been organized by several partners including; MMUST’s School of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (SDMHA), the Kenya National Government, County Government of Kakamega, International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk (UNDRR), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), World Vision, Kenya Red Cross, the United Nations Women, Kenya4Resilience and St. John Ambulance.

The Kakamega County Governor and the MMUST Vice Chancellor inspect the St. John Ambulance stand at the symposium.

Some of the key presentations that marked the first day of the symposium were; ‘Hazards and Disaster Risk Management Status in Kakamega County,’ presented by the County Director, Disaster Management, Ms. Abigael Chepkorir; ‘Progress and Achievement in Sendai Framework Implementation in Kenya,’ presented by the Director, National Disaster Operations Center (NDOC), Mr. Charles Owino; ‘Experiences and Good Practices in Early Warning for Early Action,’ presented by the Kenya Red Cross and ‘Status of Weather and Climate in Kenya: The New Normal,’ presented by the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD).’

To spice up the presentations, there was a roundtable discussion followed by an engaging panel discussion with participants on the ‘Value of Early Warning for Early Action; Investing in Early Warning, Anticipatory Action and Effective Early Warning Communication.’

The selection of MMUST to host an event of this magnitude is evidence that the University has gained national and global recognition in the area of disaster risk reduction. These are gigantic steps for MMUST as it partners with international entities to tackle the threat of manmade and natural disasters.

By Dr. Lydia Anyonje and Mary Wangari Wambugu