Growth

Growing from UKAI to SEUCO to be a fully fledged university
 

By Bon Mulu

A view of a section of SEKU complex at Kwa Vonza

 in Kitui

South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) has installed its first ever Chancellor and Vice Chancellor
Dr Titus Naikuni, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Airways and his Vice-Chancellor Prof Geoffrey Muluvi were installed during a ceremony held at the Kwa Vonza main campus in Kitui county.

The event marked a long march of the institution from its days and the Ukamba Agricultural Institute(Ukai), to South Eastern University Collage(SEUCO) to its current status.
Today, it runs campuses in Machakos, Makueni, Kangundo, Mwingi, Emali and Mtito Andei and is on the road to becoming the university of choice in the region. It undoubtedly becomes the first fully fledged public university in Ukambani.
“I promise to commit myself to delivering on what is expected of me in my partnership with SEKU,” Naikuni told a cheering university fraternity and community gathering at the event.
He commended the government awarding charters to many universities saying the provision of skilled manpower was imperative to ensure success of Kenya’s Vision 2030.
Mr Naikuni said the university must brand itself by training entrepreneurs who will either end up being employed or self-employed.
Prof. Muluvi, who has steered the University from its infancy as Principal said the university, had taken 40 years to become a reality.
Some of the university’s pioneers included the first African director of Education and later Cabinet minister Kyale Mwendwa and renowned thespian and playwright, David Mutiso.
The chairman of the SEKU council Prof Louis Mumera said the institution would emphasize innovation and entrepreneurship in dry land agriculture with emphasis on forestry, mining, energy, water and environmental science.
The University Council is chaired by Prof. Raphael Munavu, with Sabah Ahmed Omar as Vice Chairman.The following are members of the university council;Mrs. Margaret Muiru, Mr. Martin Kinoti, Ms. Risper Kandie, Ms. Lucy Karume ,, and Prof. Kamuti Kiteme and Mr David Masaka who are co-opted Members. Prof Muluvi serves as Secretary to the Council
SEKU is determined to enhance access to education, the integration of Science, Technology and Innovation into everyday life and produce graduates with knowledge, skills and zeal to confront the development challenges facing the country. “We are determined to provide our students with quality education and training for personal growth and professional excellence”, said Prof Muluvi, adding that the University aims at being center of excellence in mining and dry land agriculture
“This we intend to achieve by development of new and innovative programmes while continuing to improve on the existing ones. The University Council will do everything possible to enable the university attain Global status and be the newest force to reckon with in research and training in East and Central Africa”, he added.