MMUST’S CENTER FOR AFRICAN MEDICINAL AND NUTRITIONAL FLORA AND FAUNA TO PARTNER WITH EGERTON’S WORLD BANK FUNDED CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

On Monday, 2^nd August, 2021, Prof. George Owuor, Center leader and Principal Investigator of the World Bank’s Academic Center of Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture and Agri-business Management (CESAAM), Egerton University, visited Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology’s Internal Academic Center of Excellence: Center for African Medicinal and Nutritional Flora and Fauna (CAMNFF) in bid to establish a partnership between the two (2) Centers. CAMNFF was established in 2016 through the University Research Fund (URF) with the approval of the University Management Board.

DOCUMENTARY ON PLANT MOLECULAR BIO-LABORATORY TRAINING WORKSHOP

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) and the University of Cambridge organized a Regional Hands-on Plant Molecular Biology Training Workshop, for early-career researchers in Kenya and the East African region. The training,championed by Prof.Hassan Were, was held in the School of Agriculture, Veterinary Sciences and Technology (SAVET) from Monday 5^th  to Friday 9^th  July 2021. 

The Directorate of Corporate Communications and Marketing, documented experiences and commentaries of the participants from Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia,Tanzania and Uganda. 

(Watch Documentary Above)

CHILDREN IN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES OF KAKAMEGA COUNTY AGED BELOW FIVE (5) YEARS TO ACCESS EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION (ECE) THROUGH A HOME-BASED CARE MODEL, INSTIGATED BY MMUST’S PROLIFIC RESEARCHER DR. ROSE OPIYO

Thousands of children in marginalized communities of Kakamega County aged below five (5), will gain access to Early Care and Education (ECE) through a Home-Based Care Model, instigated by Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology’s Behavioral Scientist, Dr. Rose Opiyo. This initiative has been made possible through a research grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) awarded to the avid researcher. IDRC is a Canadian Federal Crown Corporation that supports and funds high quality research in developing countries.

MMUST ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (MMUSTAA) DONATES FIFTY THOUSAND SHILLINGS TOWARDS THE 16TH GRADUATION CEREMONY

The Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology Alumni Association has donated a cheque of Ksh. 50000 towards the 16^th Graduation ceremony set to take place on 20^th August 2021. The cheque was formally presented to the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration and Finance, Prof. Charles Mutai, on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Solomon Shibairo.

MMUST’S SONMAPS RECEIVES ATTACHMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL THE ELEVEN (11) STUDENTS PURSUING BSC. IN OSH FROM THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR

MMUST’s School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedical Sciences(SONMAPS) has received attachment opportunities for all the eleven (11) students pursuing Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health from the Ministry of Labour.

MMUST STAFF RETIREMENT BENEFITS SCHEME TRUSTEES DULY ELECTED

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology electorate has today, Wednesday 28^th July, 2021, elected trustee representatives to the MMUST Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme. The newly elected trustees, who will be representing the academic and Grades I-IV staff, are Dr. Isaac K’owino Odhiambo and Ms. Dorah Khaluyi Mbakaya respectively.

MMUST COLLABORATES WITH COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF BUSIA TO TACKLE JIGGER MENACE

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) researchers have taken the lead in using knowledge to transform communities. Jointly with the Busia County Ministry of Sports, Culture and Social Services, they have rolled out an anti-jigger campaign in Teso South Sub-County. One of the most impactful activities of the campaign was orchestrated on Monday 26^th July 2021 in Kaujakito, Amukura.

The campaign was flagged off by the Busia County CS Sports, Culture and Social Services, Dr. Janet Manyasi, and implemented by Dr. Dennis M.W. Ochieno and Mr. Philip Amuyunzu who are MMUST researchers affiliated to the Centre for African Medicinal and Nutritional Flora and Fauna (CAMNFF). The team made several stopovers in the Sub-County where many members of the communities in dire need of the services attended the function.

Speaking during the campaign, Dr. Manyasi applauded the University Management led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Solomon Shibairo for allowing such a great initiative to take place in Busia County. She said that jiggers have become a menace that torments many people, especially school going children in Busia County. She further said as a government, they are ready to support any mission towards eradication of the jigger menace. She reiterated the need for the two institutions to upscale this important activity as provided by the MoU through a structured and sustainable approach.

“Tungiasis caused by jigger fleas is a neglected disease that directly affects the productivity of Kenyan citizens in Busia County and many other parts of this Country. As a County we need healthy people to work and help in achieving economic growth in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. I am therefore grateful to the MMUST management for this gesture and humbly request that this be a continuous exercise so that we can completely eradicate the jigger threat among our people”, she said.

Mr. Amuyunzu, the Anti-Jigger Champion within the Lake Region Economic Block (LAREB), who is also the President of the Biophysical Society (Kenya), on the other hand exuded confidence that it is easy to eradicate the jigger menace from Busia County. He noted that jigger infestation is a disease like any other, but it has been neglected in many formal medical systems. “Jiggers lower people’s self-esteem, making them run away from the public due to deep-rooted stigma in many African communities”, he said. He called upon members of the community, MMUST and the County Government of Busia to jointly address the issue in order to eliminate the embarrassing disease. He further assured members of the community in Busia that MMUST will continue carrying out research to come up with indigenous remedies that can easily kill jiggers without affecting members of the community.

Busia County Government was also represented by the Chief Officer in the Department of Sports, Culture and Social Services, Mr. Joe Maurice Odundo, the Director Department of Sports, Mr. Peter Ogulla and the Kaujakito area Chief, Mr. George Okemer. Other members in the MMUST team present included the MMUST-CAMNFF affiliated Medical Microbiologist Mr. Peter Nyongesa and the research assistants Elizabeth Mwende, Feyseyne Isiye, Victoria Naluyange, Amos Wanekeya and Simon Barasa Owana. 

by Wilberforce Shiundu

MMUST STAFF RETIREMENT BENEFITS SCHEME HOLDS DEBATE AHEAD OF TOMORROW’S TRUSTEE ELECTIONS

The MMUST Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme, on Monday July 26, 2021, for the first time ever, held a debate for academic staff trustee representatives- Dr. K’owino Isaac Odhiambo of the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, and Ms. Sharon Kosgey of the Department of Clinical Nursing and Health Informatics. The aim of the debate was to provide voters with an opportunity to interrogate the candidates, to get a comprehensive view of them, their policies as well as their outlook on various issues before the elections scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday July 28, 2021.