Varsity Focus (August, 2013)

Abstract

I WELCOME YOU TO OUR SECOND EDITION OF THE VARSITY FOCUS WHICH FOCUSES ON OUR ACTIVITIES IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

We congratulate the University for performing well in the latest Webometric Rankings after emerging top in Kenya and 14 in Africa. This top ranking corroborates previous rankings and government performance ratings which have consistently rated UoN at the top.

We also feature profiles of our Council Chairman Dr. Idle Omar Farah as our main story, highlighting his upbringing, professional and family life and his plans for the University. Other profiles focus on the journey of Prof. Okoth Okombo of the Department of Linguistics and the Coordinator, Kenya Sign Language Project and Edith Mwirigi Nkatha, a fourth year, Civil Engineering student, who is the first elected female Secretary General of SONU.

On capacity building activities, the University held Intellectual Property workshop which targeted the management Board, Deans, Directors and Intellectual Property (IP) champions. The Intellectual Property Management Office has also reviewed and upgraded the IP Policy and drafted policies on plagiarism, Research Open Access which have been adopted by the University management.

On constittutional matters, the University embarked on a process of sensitizing staff, students and the alumni on the contents of the constitution and the public service integrity programme. This programme is being implemented as a rapid results initiative and targets all members of the University of Nairobi Community.

The programme is facilitated by two government agencies: Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) and The Ethics and Anticorruption Commission (EACC). The progamme kicked off in early August after the launch by the Chairman, CIC, Mr. Charles Nyachae. Different activities regarding sensitization have been scheduled in all Colleges. In this issue we have featured interactive activities that took place in the University recently. Among them was Elgeyo Marakwet Senator, Kipchumba Murkomen who discussed devolution with staff and students. The subject is of great public interest.

We have also covered three members of staff who retired recently after long service to the University. Mrs. Salome Munavu retired as the University Librarian after 38 years of service. Mrs. Elizabeth Ongwae retired as Deputy Registrar after 25 years service and at the time was also acting Registrar, Administration.

Mrs. Grace Hinga retired as an Executive Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration and Finance, after 42 years of service to the University. We wish them well in their future undertakings.

These are among the stories that we have featured in this edition of Varsity Focus. Enjoy reading and feel free to give us feedback.

- Charles E. Sikulu -