The Central Organization of Trade Unions- Kenya (COTU-K) Secretary General, Dr. Francis Atwoli, who is also a MMUST Alumni, is now the MMUST Goodwill Ambassador. Dr. Atwoli will lead the university’s effort to raise five hundred an
d fifty million Kenya shillings (Ksh. 550 M) for the Construction of the Dr. Atwoli International Centre for Labour and Leadership Studies (DAICELLS) at the University.
DAICELLS will build a pool of skilled, adaptive, self-reliant and enterprising labour force for realizing the ‘Big Four Agenda’ currently under implementation by the Government of Kenya. While addressing the University Council Members led by the Chairman Dr. Jeremy Bundi in his office in Nairobi on Tuesday 16th April 2019, Dr. Atwoli said he is honored that the University has conceptualized the Centre to be named after him.
Presenting the plan to the team, Dr. Isaac Kowino explained that the Centre will be housed in the School of Business and Economics, offering academic and executive programs in Labour and Industrial Relations as well as Public and Private Sector Leadership and Management. Once operational, the center will be an International Training and Research Centre for Industrial Relations. It will focus on promoting industrial peace and achievements as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG Goal number eight (8) that seeks to promote sustained inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
The Centre will also be used to carry out research and disseminate findings on work place related issues. Dr. Atwoli promised to help in seeking collaboration between the DAICELLS and the International Labour Organization (ILO) as well as other training Centers in Turin, Italy in the areas of program development, research and international accreditation of programmes. It will equally serve as a platform for employees to upgrade their skills in industrial relations from time to time as part of their human resource retention strategy. Such training will be tailored to address labour relations, leadership, management and financial competencies, ensuring that the resultant empowered work force is productive, creative, independent and relevant “It is envisioned that the Centre will enable the Sub-Saharan region to achieve milestones in developing quality manpower for industrial and labour relations. We hope to address the strategic options and modalities identified for the national agenda as a foundation for Vision 2030. This center will create a platform for engagement and negotiation between governments, labour movements, key stakeholders and collaborators”, said Dr. Atwoli.
Dr. Bundi appreciated Dr. Atwoli’s gesture of assisting the university to get the state of the art facilities and global recognition. He said that MMUST had made strides in its quest towards being a world class student focused university and reiterated the Council’s commitment towards attaining the feat. He was accompanied by other council members including Mrs. Dorothy Kimeu, Don Riaro, Joyce Nderitu, Dr. Samson Muchelule, Mr. Watene and Ag. Vice Chancellor Prof. Joseph Bosire.
Speaking during the meeting, Prof. Bosire, applauded the move to establish DAICELLS in the university saying it will help to sharpen leadership skills among workers not only in MMUST but in the entire world. “I am impressed by the move to have DAICELLS at MMUST. I want to assure this team that the university management is fully behind this initiative”, said Prof. Bosire.
Other members of the university in attendance were; the Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor for Planning Research and Innovation DVC (PRI) - Prof. Charles Mutai, the renowned scholar and Professor of Literary Communication - Prof. Egara Kabaji, Ag. Dean SOBE - Dr. Robert Egessa, Executive Dean School of Education - Dr. Judah Ndiku, Trustee, MMUST Pension scheme - Dr. Isaac Kowino and the Assistant Registrar Council Secretariat - Mrs. Immaculate Ayodo.
By Shiundu Wilberforce (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Dr. Lydia Anyonje (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
