By Muraya Kamunde
Mount Kenya University (MKU) alumni converged in Kisumu over the weekend for a memorable reunion that brought together graduates from the four campuses of Kakamega, Kericho, Kisii and Kisumu fondly referred to as the “4K’s”.
The event celebrated shared memories while charting new directions for collective growth and impactunder the theme “Rekindling Bonds and Sailing Together.” It was graced by university leadershipled by MKU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi, partners and distinguished guests.
The Vice-Chancellor described the reunion as more than an event, calling it “a celebration of our journey together, a renewal of friendships, and a reaffirmation that MKU is a lifelong family.” He emphasized the importance of alumni connections, likening them to sails on a boat each strong individually, but only able to propel forward when joined together.
Jaganyi also highlighted the MKU Alumni Awards, which recognizes graduates excelling in professional excellence, leadership, public service, community engagement, global impact, innovation, and entrepreneurship. These accolades serve as a reminder that the spirit of MKU continues to shine across diverse sectors through its alumni. He encouraged the alumni to continue nominating and be part of the award.
On the MKU Alumni Tracer Study, a key initiative designed to track career progress, understand labor market trends and align academic programmes with industry demands, the VC said alumni feedback plays a vital role in shaping curriculum, empowering students, and ensuring MKU graduates remain competitive in the job market.
Issuing a passionate call to action, he urged alumni to mentor current students, provide internships, contribute to scholarships and research, volunteer in alumni activities, and advocate for the university. He concluded with inspiration from MKU Founder and Chairman, Prof. Simon Gicharu: “If you encounter a wall, climb over, break through, or go around it.”
Prof. Wanderi, Principal Corporate Services and Linkages urged the students to reconnect with their respective schools in matters of curriculum development and emphasized on the student’s mentorship and networking.
Mrs. Virginia Musawa, Director Alumni Relations emphasized the importance of sustained engagement between alumni and the university, describing the reunion as both a moment of celebration and a launch pad for greater collaboration.
“This gathering is about more than memories. It is about building bridges between our past, our present, and our future. Every alumnus and alumna here today is a vital link in that chain,” she said.
She said the Alumni Relations Office, working closely with the MKU Alumni Association (MKUAA), is spearheading initiatives to strengthen connections.
Keynote Speaker Ms. Dorcas Owinoh brought the theme to life by sharing her personal journey. Returning to campus, she described it as stepping back into a familiar harbor full of memories. She recalled teaching herself to code after college, which led to the creation of LakeHub, Kisumu’s first innovation hub. From an initial 10 students, LakeHub has grown into a vibrant ecosystem that has trained over 5,000 youth, supported hundreds of entrepreneurs, and touched more than 12,000 lives.
Building on this success, she launched Zone01 Kisumu, a tuition-free, project-based software engineering programme. Within just three months, it attracted over 13,000 applicants, with 96 apprentices currently training in world-class digital skills.
Ms. Owinoh credited these achievements to collaboration: “Every step of the way, I was sailing with others — governments, funders, universities, global partners, and communities. They were the wind in our sails.”
She stressed that rekindling bonds provides continuity and grounding, while sailing together ensures collective strength to overcome challenges. “We are all builders,” she told the alumni. “If we want to build things that last, we must rekindle the bonds that ground us and sail together with those who share our vision.”
Representing the alumni body, Mr. Gikera Kahara, chairman of the MKU Alumni Association (MKUAA), welcomed participants from the “4K’s” campuses and thanked them for their dedication to building a vibrant community. He outlined MKUAA’s guiding slogan: Engage, Empower, Evolve.
Mr. Kahara also announced key milestones, including the official registration of MKUAA with the Registrar of Societies, giving it a solid framework for operations. He encouraged alumni to actively participate in the newly launched Annual Alumni Awards and the Graduate Career Tracker Survey, which will align MKU programs with market needs.
The 4K’s reunion was both a celebration of shared heritage and a call to collective action. Through the words of the speakers and panelists, alumni were reminded of the power of unity, collaboration and giving back to the institution and to the community. “Our network is our net worth,” he reminded the audience, urging alumni to embrace the pillars of engagement, empower, and evolve for the benefit of both themselves and their alma mater,” Mr Kahara said.
Meanwhile, MKU student innovators, Mr. Esbon Ogeto and Ms. Bettinah Maruti, start-up project “EcoBlu” has emerged as the top investment-worthy innovation during the prestigious ACCESS 2 AGEA Competition held in Leipzig, Germany held last week. This milestone was reached during the African Centre for Career Enhancement a Skills Support (ACCESS) program, where students from five African university participated in a rigorous two-week entrepreneurship training at the SEPT Competence Centre, Leipzig University.
The project included sessions on business planning, market potential, financial modelling and pitch development, culminating in a high-stakes pitch presentation where “EcoBlue” stood out as the most promising start-up.
Dr. Henry Yatich, ACCESS Project Coordinator at MKU, said Esbon and Bettinah’s success reflects the institution’s commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial talent and addressing employability challenges among African youth. “Through Access Kenya, MKU continues to build the next generation of innovators by offering mentorship, training, and global exposure,” he said.
To support the realization of their vision, the “EcoBlue” team will receive ongoing assistance from MKU’s Incubation and Innovation Centre, including prototype development and testing, guidance on securing a utility model and patents from Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI as well as strategic support to access international markets, including in Europe.
In line with our mission to scale innovation, MKU and its 10 affiliate universities are organizing a national business innovation challenge titled: “Innovate for Impact: Scaling Kenyan MSMEs through SDG 9” from mid next month.
This challenge invites student applicants to present solutions that empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Kenya.
Interested students are encouraged to submit their applications via MKU’s official Facebook page. “Let’s continue to celebrate and support the brilliance of our students as they transform ideas into impactful ventures,” said Dr Yatich.
