Chancellors Speech 5th Graduation Dec2016

SPEECH BY THE UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR, PROF.
SHELLEMIAH O. KEYA ON THE OCCASION OF THE

5TH GRADUATION CEREMONY AT DEDAN
KIMATHI UNIVERSITY, GRADUATION SQUARE
The Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education Science
and Technology (MoEST), Dr. Fred Matiang’i
Chairman of Council, Prof. Dulacha Barako,
Council members,
Vice Chancellor, Dedan Kimathi University of
Technology, Prof. P. N. Kioni
Vice Chancellors of other Universities present,
Deputy Vice Chancellors,
Deans and Directors,
Registrars,
Teaching and non-teaching staff,
Parents and guardians,
Graduands and Students,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
1
Good morning?
As we gather here this 16th day of December 2016 to mark
our fifth graduation ceremony, the entire Dedan Kimathi
University is filled with joy as we confidently usher in
competent human resource to the world. This is in
alignment with our University mission, “To provide
academically stimulating, culturally diverse and quality
learning environment that fosters research, innovation and
technology development towards producing relevant
technical and managerial human resource and leaders to
contribute to attainment of national development goals.”
You graduands are therefore well equipped to face the
challenges of the world by applying your intellectual
capacity in solving the day to day problems and making
the world a better place.
As I salute you graduands,
It is important to appreciate the effort made individually
and collectively towards the realization of this day,
especially your success and the growth of the institution
this far.
We are grateful to the government of Kenya, the
University council, the senate and management, the
academic and administrative staff, students, alumni, the
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local community, the collaborators and partners and all
stakeholders for the support extended to us. Much
appreciation goes to the parents and guardians who have
worked tirelessly to support the students throughout their
studies.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Over the four years since the award of charter, we have
graduated four thousand, one hundred and forty eight
(4,148) graduates in different programmes. After this
graduation today, this figure will rise to 4496. The student
population has grown from five thousand, four hundred
and forty three (5, 443) in 2013/2014 to six thousand, nine
hundred and forty four (6, 944) in 2016.
Several postgraduate and undergraduate programmes
have been introduced this year as follows:
 PhD Mechanical Engineering,

 Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering,
 Master of Science in Security and Forensic
Management,
 Master of Science in Leather Technology,
 Bachelor of Education in Technology (Civil
Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering
and Mechanical Engineering),
 Bachelor of Technology in Building Construction,
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Diploma and Certificate in Electrical and Electronics
Engineering.
 This is in effort to offer more technical programmes

towards training and capacity building for national
development.
Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
As a University of Technology, we have continued to
embrace the culture of innovation, research and
development. Students have applied the education
provided in the academic programmes to develop
innovations. In this regard I note with satisfaction
that the DeHUB, the University’s innovation hub,
continues to spawn ever more innovations from the
students and that some of them have been successfully
nurtured into commercially viable enterprises. I
encourage the University management and academic staff
to strengthen and entrench even more this culture of
innovation and enterprise in teaching, identification of
research problems, in the conduct of research and the
associated results dissemination.
Through the Institute of Food Bioresources Technology,
the University has been able to produce (i) its own coffee,
already available in the market place (ii) DeKUT yoghurt
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and (iii) just recently we introduced coffee flavored
yoghurt. Why can’t give applause to the University?
Further, through forums such as the DeKUT 2nd

Conference on Science, Technology, Innovation and
Entrepreneurship held between 2nd and 4th of November
this year, DeKUT looks to meet the need to entrench a
research and publishing culture in the Institution. This is
in line with the ultimate goal of our philosophy,” To
mould Dedan Kimathi University of Technology into an
institution known for world class research, academic
excellence, an exceptional staff and students, and one that
harbors the highest level of innovation, creativity,
scholarship and enterprises.”
Ladies and Gentlemen let me return to collaboration and

partnerships,
DeKUT works closely with the industry, professional and

statutory bodies, national institutions, government
agencies, and Universities abroad. This is tailored so that
the education and research programmes are relevant to
the national needs and at the same time are
benchmarked internationally. Allow me to acknowledged
certain collaborations among them:
 Key institutions in the coffee sector which have

enabled this university to develop unique certificate,
diploma, and research programmes,
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 In the geothermal energy sector, partnerships have
been forged with Geothermal Development
Corporation (GDC), KENGEN, and Ministry of
Energy – Kenya.
 Through these linkages the University has developed
and launched a Masters degree and a Postgraduate
Diploma in Geothermal Energy Technology,
 On tourism and conservation partnership is thriving
with the National Museums of Kenya, Kenya
Forest Research Institute, and the Kenya Wildlife
Service
 With regard to postgraduate education and research,
DeKUT has close partnerships with leading foreign
Universities: These include University of Leuven,
Belgium, for Geothermal Energy and Industrial
Engineering, University of Gifu, Japan, for a range
of engineering and ICT programmes, and Technical
University of Applied Sciences, Germany for
Mechanical Engineering and Coffee Technology,
William Paterson University of New Jersey, for
Business Studies, and the College of The Rockies,
Canada, on nursing programme.
DeKUT has continued leveraging on these partnerships so

as to ensure that she lives up to her vision. In the year
2016, steps towards more of the collaborations have been
made:
I. A major stakeholder in the TVET upskilling of

trainers program
6
II. Launch of a joint South Initiative project funded by
Flemish Inter University Council, Belgium (VLIR).
The project titled "Capacity enhancement for
teaching, research and extension for management of
critical medical devices at public hospitals in Kenya"
III. Taking steps towards wind energy technology and
establishment of the Green Institute
IV. Introducing SIEMENS certification through a
partnership agreement signed between Siemens and
DeKUT. This will enhance Mechatronic Engineering
training.
V. The recently signed Memorandum of Understanding
between Dedan Kimathi University of Technology
and National Police Service
VI. An MoU with the University of Siegen covering a
range of collaboration areas.
Here at Dedan Kimathi University, we are keen on holistic
education as well as embracing a culture of teamwork and
nurturing diversity as strength. With this, the University
students and staff have engaged in various activities
towards building cohesion and integration as well as
demonstrating love for one another.
Driven by the concern for the gifted but needy students,
an endowment fund was born out of this where funds are
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mobilized to help the needy students in raising school
fees. The fund is replenished through activities such as
“Climb to Educate” and “Charity Golf Tournament”
which have been made annual events by the University.
Individuals and institutions can also contribute to the
fund through direct monetary contributions, participating
in University events, bursaries and prizes, scholarships
and fellowships, sponsorship of events and grants to the
University under specified programmes.
Since this is an on - going effort I wish to announce as
Chancellor that my very small personal contribution to
this fund of Kes 100,000.00 should reach the University
before the end of 2016.

As I assume my seat, I take this opportunity to once again
congratulate our graduands. The world is waiting for you,
what will you offer to the hungry, the poor, the
unemployed citizens of the world?
Thank you, KWAHERI,
May I wish you a merry Christmas and a prosperous
New Year 2017 and
Finally may God bless you all!
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SPEECH BY THE UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR, PROF.

SHELLEMIAH O. KEYA ON THE OCCASION OF THE

 PhD Mechanical Engineering,

 This is in effort to offer more technical programmes

Further, through forums such as the DeKUT 2nd

Ladies and Gentlemen let me return to collaboration and

DeKUT works closely with the industry, professional and

 Key institutions in the coffee sector which have

DeKUT has continued leveraging on these partnerships so

I. A major stakeholder in the TVET upskilling of

Ladies and Gentlemen,

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