Mountain Meets Land of 1,000 Hills

MOUNTAIN MEETS LAND OF 1,000 HILLS MOUNTAILNANDMOF 1E,00E0 HTILSLS The entry of Mount Kenya University as a cross-border educational institution into Rwanda



PUBLICATION TEAM Mount Kenya University-Rwanda Mount Kenya University - Kenya P.O Box 5826, Gatenga, Kicukiro District, Kigali. Office of Chairman, Board of Directors Tel: +250 788 125088 Prof. Dr. Simon N. Gicharu, CBS +250 785 709824 Chancellor Email: [email protected] Prof. John Struthers, PhD [email protected] Pro Chancellor Facebook: OfficialMountKenyaUniversityRwanda Dr. Vincent Gaitho, PhD Twitter: @mountkenyaUniRw Vice Chancellor Website: www.mku.ac.ke Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi, PhD All rights reserved © Mount Kenya University, 2022 Mount Kenya University - Rwanda Prof. Edwin Odhuno, PhD Extracts may be re-published for educational purpos- Dr. John Nyiligira, PhD es. Mount Kenya University has made every effort to Antony Kamau use appropriate material and ensure the content here- Joyce Kirabo in is factual and up-to-date. Any omissions are highly Henry Musisi regretted. Research & Publication: MKU Rwanda School of Journalism and Mass Communication Photos: Mount Kenya University archive, Rwanda Development Board, Reuters, Johns Hopkins University Printing: Al Ghurair Printing & Publishing LLC, Dubai Pramodh Ramakrishnan [email protected] i THE STORY OF MKUR

DEDICATION This publication is dedicated to the thousands of students who chose Mount Kenya University Rwanda (MKUR) as the place to quench their academic thirst. To them all, we say: You did your due diligence and were convinced this was the higher education institution to make your dreams come true. Time has proved you right. It’s here that you acquired your career- enhancing knowledge, skills, attitudes and values in your chosen field. We appreciate the opportunity to take you through our brand of education. We wish you all the best as you seek to fulfil your life’s dreams while serving your community, country and the world. The ever-expanding MKU family that you helped to build will always treasure you. THE STORY OF MKUR ii

VISION To be a Global Hub of Excellence in Education, Research and Innovation. MISSION To provide world class education, research and innova- tion for global transformation and sustainable develop- ment. PHILOSOPHY To harness knowledge in applied Sciences and Technol- ogy for the service of humanity. iii THE STORY OF MKUR

ACADEMIC CHARACTER With an emphasis of Science, technology and humanities, Mount Kenya University offers an all rounded education including moral and professional education to all persons irrespective of religion, race, gender or political affiliation, social or cultural background. It endeavors to develop well trained man power equipped with technological scientific knowledge and capacities from certificates, diplomas, under graduate and post- graduate degree courses. CORE VALUES The University’s core values that form the basis of engage- ment,teaching and learning are: • Innovation • Integrity • Academic Freedom • Equity • Competitiveness THE STORY OF MKUR iv

Contents 28 46 1 Introduction Road to MKUR Unity is strength Welcoming Guests v THE STORY OF MKUR Sonatubes-Bugesera Highway MKUR entrenches roots Rwanda dignitaries visit MKU- Down Memory Lane Thika Bird’s Eye View Launch of EMBA programme Rwanda: Land of 1,000 Hills MKUR students dance for MKUR founder’s history Transition from Francophone to President Moi Flagging off a dream Anglophone MKUR ‘White Paper’ Three Presidents visit MKU-Thika Word from pioneer directors Student life at MKUR Pioneer class graduates Creation of MKUR Student Council The magic of Rwanda’s traditional dance Launch of Royal FM Memorable shots from past GEA supports student graduation ceremonies entrepreneurs

62 98 122 173 Quest for own home CSR & Partnerships MKUR Alumni What next for MKUR? What next for novel campus? MKUR-Imbuto Foundation Alumni association grows from Long serving MKUR members of partnership strength to strength staff share their insights Construction of own university building Meet Rwanda’s first MKU-trained Retired officer earns doctoral Meet the MKU Board doctor degree from MKUR representative who has ‘seen it all’ 10 things you’ll like about MKUR MKUR constructs house for How ex-student is uplifting lives Prophecy from an old hand MKUR: Education for public good ageing widow of rural women Founding Vice Chancellor reflects School of Hospitality as a centre How partnerships lubricate Giving teen mothers a second on MKUR’s journey of excellence MKUR’s processes chance What next for MKUR? School of Nursing benchmarks Partnership with New Life Ex-student now a continental Contribution to Rwanda’s ‘Vision against Johns Hopkins University Ministries blossoms trailblazer in ICT solutions 2050’ in USA MKUR inks deals with health Training media stars is MKUR’s Infrastructure is core to MKUR’s Varsity receives ISO Certification facilities in Rwanda forte continuous success THE STORY OF MKUR vi

Acronyms/Abbreviations AKU Aga Khan University HEC Higher Education Council NUR National University of Rwanda IT BBM Bachelor of Business Management IUM Information Technology NUR National Unity and Reconciliation Commission of Rwanda BBICT Bachelor of Business Information JKUAT International University of Communication Technology Management JKIA PRSP Poverty Reduction Strategy Jomo Kenyatta University of Program BBIT Bachelor of Business Information KICD Agriculture and Technology Technology KIE Jomo Kenyatta International ODel Online Distance and Electronic KIST Airport Learning BCom Bachelor of Commerce KHI Kenya Institute of Curriculum CAMS Credit Accumulation and Modular KMTC Development PACFA Protection and Care of Families Scheme LMG against HIV/AIDS Kenya Institute of Education CAO Chief Academic Officer LIA PBB Pharmacy and Poisons Board MBA Kigali Institute of Science and CBS Chief of the Order of the Burning MKU Technology PwC PricewaterhouseCoopers Spear MIRD Kigali Health Institute QMS Quality Management Systems MIS CHAN Africa Cup of Nations MKUSA Kenya Medical Training College RBC Rwanda Biomedical Centre CHE Commission for Higher Education MUBS e-Leadership Management and RBC-NCBT Rwanda Biomedical Centre- Governance National Centre for Blood CNLG National Commission for the Fight MKUR Transfusion Against Genocide MoU Letter of Interim Authority NCNM CTO Chief Technology Officer Masters of Business Management RDB Rwanda Development Board CUE Commission for University Mount Kenya University RTUC Rwanda Tourism University College Education Masters in International Relations RURA Rwanda Utility and Regulatory and Diplomacy Authority DRC Democratic Republic of Congo Management Information Systems DVC-APIA Deputy Vice-Chancellor for TIT Thika Institute of Technology Administration, Planning and Mount Kenya University Students Institutional Advancement Association TSC Teachers Service Commission DVC-ARA Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Makerere University Business TTTI Thika Technical Training Institute Academic and Research Affairs School TUC Turkana University College Mount Kenya University Rwanda EAC East African Community UAE United Arab Emirates Memorandum of Understanding EMBA Executive Masters in Business UoN University of Nairobi Administration National Council of Nurses and Midwives UTB University of Tourism, Technology and Business Studies EPRN Economic Policy Research Network ESL English as a Second Language USA United States of America IFRDN Institute of Fundraising and Resource Mobilisation Network vii THE STORY OF MKUR

Preface MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY been the social and economic impacts of this thrived, and neither would this book have Rwanda (MKUR) has grown in move? Read it and learn more about this in- been necessary. leaps and bounds over the last stitution of higher learning, and how, togeth- As an institution, we look forward to a bright 12 years. er with the parent university – MKU – they are future as we contribute towards a prosperous It’s rich breadth of alumni work within and helping to transform lives in the continent Rwanda. beyond Rwanda - including United States and beyond. We’re humbled that, in our small way, we’ve of America (USA), Canada, United Kingdom We are grateful to the MKU Chairman and helped grow Rwanda’s human resource pool, (UK), various European countries, Middle East, Founder, Prof Simon N. Gicharu, for the inval- and are encouraged that our graduands are other Sub-Saharan Africa nations, China and uable support and guidance he has extended highly employable. Australia. towards the compilation and publication of That success is sufficient impetus for MKUR A commitment to the internationalisation of this book. to invest more resources in expanding access higher education has been the university’s Thanks also to MKUR staff, alumni and stu- to higher education. aspiration since its establishment in Kenya in dents, who have contributed towards en- 2008. riching its contents through their stories of In this book, we narrate MKUR’s history. What interaction with the campus. is its origin? How did the institution enter Finally, I would like to thank the Government Rwanda? How did Mount Kenya University of the Republic of Rwanda, its agencies, and overcome the challenges it encountered above all, His Excellency President Paul Kag- Prof Deogratius JAGANYI, PhD when it swam headlong into the uncharted ame, for welcoming MKU into this country. Vice-Chancellor, waters of cross-border education? What has Without the hospitality, MKUR wouldn’t have Mount Kenya University THE STORY OF MKUR viii

Foreword MKU ARRIVED WITHOUT much fan- da. Being a new university from a foreign country, Rwanda once you’ve built a campus here”? fare or marketing blitz. There were many people in Rwanda were curious about what Frankly, in MKU, we saw an institution arduously no billboards. Neither were there it offered. committed to sharing knowledge. It was therefore road shows to announce its arrival. Many people who could not travel to Kigali im- easy to nudge and guide them to offer academic I remember at that time, our country was intensify- pressed upon the university to open centres closer services within the confines of Rwanda’s standards ing efforts to rebuild the education sector. home. I understand that’s how these various cen- and regulations for higher education. Slightly more than a decade earlier, the 1994 Gen- tres came about. You can be sure that even as the people of Rwanda ocide Against Tutsi had claimed hundreds of thou- Naturally, you expect a university to have own infra- embraced MKU and encouraged it to sustain in- sands of lives and had decimated our institutions. structure in place before opening its doors to the vestments in quality infrastructure and personnel, During that national tragedy of monumental pro- public. But then, those were unusual times that challenges always loomed. portion, we lost human capital in a massive way. probably needed a creative approach to offering I laud MKU for consolidating its resources in one Then here comes the first ever foreign universi- university education. central location. There’s plenty to learn from MKU’s ty, from our East African neighbour, Kenya. MKU Our country sorely needed the personnel to drive exploits in Rwanda, its memorable interaction with came in to help us rebuild our education. it forward socially and economically as it sought our people and the unique legacy it is building. From an investment perspective, that was quite a to recover from a haunting experience. It needed bold move. As a long-serving educationist, and, like massive numbers of trained people. Yet opportu- other Rwandans, I took note of MKU when I learnt nities for higher learning were limited within the that it had opened several teaching centres in Ki- country. Then came MKU, ready and willing to Dr Innocent Mugisha gali, and even one in Cyangugu! That was unusual, bridge that gap. What were we to do? To tell them, Former Executive Director, Higher Education unprecedented and totally unexpected in Rwan- “pack your things, go back to Kenya and return to Council- Rwanda, and veteran educationist ix THE STORY OF MKUR

Acknowledgements MKUR OWES ITS existence, growth health personnel thanks to the university’s ties with us to use their boarding and sporting facilities. We and development to the amazing a host of hospitals in Kigali. Hospitals such as King also appreciate Harvest School for allowing us to support it has received over many Faisal Hospital, Kanombe Military Hospital, Univer- use their accommodation facilities. years from different quarters. sity Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kibagabaga Hospi- RwandAir has been our air travel partner, for which First, we would like to acknowledge and deeply ap- tal, and Muhima Hospital have been the training we are grateful. preciate the entire Government of Rwanda for ex- grounds for our students. But, without any doubt, MKUR would not have tending a warm welcome to MKU. In typical African Various financial institutions were generous been born had it not been for the encounter with hospitality, it made MKU feel right at home from enough to give us loans to develop our campus in the Rwanda Tourism University College, now called the first day. Rwanda. the University of Tourism, Technology and Business Rwanda Development Board assisted in registering We also give credit to Rwanda media for showcas- Studies. We thank the founders of this great institu- the campus. We thank Rwanda Utilities Regulatory ing our challenges and our achievements. tion for welcoming us and accepting to collaborate Authority for according us the frequencies to oper- The landlords of the facilities we had rented before with us to build human capacity in Rwanda. ate a radio station. constructing our own campus opened the doors Finally, we must acknowledge parents, guardians The Higher Education Council of Rwanda has to success. New Life Ministries has supported us by and student for their incredible trust in us. It is im- walked with us throughout this journey. sponsoring students to MKUR. possible to mention every individual or institution We recognise Rwanda National Police as a key Imbuto Foundation has been a pillar of support, who has contributed to MKUR being what it is to- partner. Diplomats of our two countries – Rwanda helping us to identify brilliant students who need day: A centre of excellence in training manpower and Kenya – have contributed to the success of the scholarships to sharpen their talents. for Rwanda and the rest of Africa. university. MKUR has successfully been training We thank Kagarama Secondary School for allowing We appreciate everyone’s support to us. THE STORY OF MKUR x

Executive Summary MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY (MKU) Regular; Part-time (Evening and Weekend); Open, qualities Hub. is a private chartered University Distance, and electronic Learning (ODeL); and Dis- The University’s Main campus is located in Thika committed to a broad-based, ho- tance, Institution-Based, and electronic Learning town, Kenya. Other campuses are in Nairobi (Nai- listic, and inclusive system of education. It is ISO (DIBeL). robi Campus & MKU Parklands Law Campus). In 9001:2015 certified, confirming that its quality Since its inception in 2008, MKU has maintained addition, MKU has ODeL centres in Malindi, Kisu- management systems and practices are world- a strong bias for science and technology, while mu, Kitale, Kakamega, Kisii and Kericho in Kenya, class, therefore guaranteeing its students out- also teaching the humanities. Thus, its rich menu and country offices in Kampala in Uganda, Bu- standing education. of highly competitive programmes offers a wide jumbura in Burundi, Hargeisa in Somaliland, and Within East Africa, the University has distin- range of people the chance to pursue careers of Garowe in Puntland. guished itself as the alma mater of thousands of their choice. In Rwanda, MKU is in the process of becoming the professionals who serve humanity in different ca- MKU is a member of various international bodies, first university to build a hospitality training hotel. pacities. This stems from the University’s passion including the Inter-University Council of East Afri- The bespoke facility is expected to serve students to develop people’s talents for both self-fulfilment ca (IUCEA); Association of African Universities; As- drawn from the Great Lakes Region. and the advancement of society. sociation of Commonwealth Universities; Talloires The university is also investing heavily in the field Through its flexible modes of study, MKU has ex- Network of Engaged Universities; Association of of professional nurses’ training. It has bench- panded access to affordable and quality higher Africa Business Schools, and Association to Ad- marked against Johns Hopkins University School education, as people are enabled to study at their vance Collegiate Schools of Business. of Nursing at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, convenience from anywhere in the world. It is also a member of United Nations Academic USA. The School is one of the best in the United The University offers various study-mode options: Impact (UNAI) and UNAI SDG 10: Reduced Ine- States. xi THE STORY OF MKUR

ROAD TO MKUR

ROAD TO MKUR

Sonatubes-Bugesera Highway: Road to MKU Rwanda THE SONATUBES BUGESERA High- out street lights and designated bus stops. way, which is another of Rwanda’s As is the norm at many public places in Rwan- architectural marvels, is the artery da, the road also features beautiful greenery that leads to MKU Rwanda. on the median strip. There are palm trees, red That is, when you approach the university roses and lily turfs among others. from Kigali International Airport in Kanombe Rwanda has a relatively good road network or from Kigali Central Business District. with all roads in urban areas properly paved. The dual carriageway, 13.8 kilometres long, The road is served by various modes of trans- links the Sonatube roundabout to the River port notably inter-city buses, taxi-cabs, and Akagera bridge in Bugesera district. the ubiquitous motorbikes popularly known It leads to the site of the upcoming Airport in as ‘moto’. Bugesera, 40 kilometres south of the Kigali In- To reach the Campus, you disembark at Kaga- ternational Airport. MKUR is located in Gaten- rama stage. Motos and taxis will gladly wheel ga, Kicukiro District. It is off KK28 Avenue in you right up to the gate. Kagarama. MKUR, which is perched atop a hill, is visible Before the year 2022, the Sonatubes-Bugesera from many parts of Kigali. It is appropriate Highway was a single carriageway. It was also labelled with neon lights that illuminate the twisty and narrow. The new Highway has two night sky, symbolic of the university’s educa- lanes on either side, with adequately spaced- tive impact on society.

ROAD TO MKUR Down memory lane: Brief history of higher education in Rwanda Education is among the ONE OF THE earliest institutions ed before 1994 are Institut Superieur d’Agri- key sectors in Rwanda. of higher learning in the coun- culture et d’Élevage (ISAE), Institut Supérieur Soon after the 1994 Gen- try is the Grand Séminaire de des Finances Publiques (ISFP), Universite Lai- ocide Against Tutsi, the Government focused Nyakibanda, established in 1936. que de Kigali (UNILAC), Université Adventiste on education as one of the means of creating It was followed by the Université nationale du d’Afrique Sentrale (UAAC), Institut Supérieur a vibrant economy. Ed- ucation was seen as a Rwanda (National University of Rwanda) in Pédagogique de Gitwe (ISPG), and Grand solution in solving the problem of manpower. 1963 -nearly 30 years later. Seminaire Catholique et Faculte de Theologie The country was focused on evolving into a knowl- In Education in Rwanda: Rebalancing Re- de Butare. edge-based economy, so as to shift from agricul- sources to Accelerate Post-conflict Develop- Institutions that came after 1994 include ture and mineral extrac- tion, which were the tra- ment and Poverty Reduction by the World MKUR, Kigali Health Institute (1995), Kigali In- dition. Bank, it is reported that students looking for stitute of Science Technology and Manage- higher education often went to other coun- ment (1997), Kigali Independent University tries. (1995), Catholic University of Kabgayi (2003) But the country’s higher education experi- and the University of Agriculture, Technolo- enced a rebirth after 1994. The government gy and Education of Kibungo established in rolled out a human resource development 2003. policy that focused on ‘education for all’ and The human resource development policy was education ‘without any discrimination’. the bedrock of the quantitative progress in Other institutions of higher learning that start- the education sector. 1 THE STORY OF MKUR

post 1994, the number of graduates and stu- dents enrolled at institutions of higher learn- ing increased substantially. “All this was possi- ble because of the efforts of the government and the private sector,” notes NURC. From 1995 to 2002, the total student enrol- Monument the problem of manpower,” notes the book by ment at private universities was 5,073. Among depicting NURC, published in 2016. public institutions, it was 10,280. The book adds that during Rwanda’s rebirth, According to the Ministry of Education (MI- Rwanda tradi- “it was hoped that the economy should not NUDEC), from the academic year 2006/’07 to tional dancers only be based on agriculture and mineral ex- 2018/’19, a total of 87,558 students graduated traction as per tradition, but on human re- from public higher learning institutions. Pri- at Sonatube source.” vate institutions produced 92,308 graduates roundabout in Between 1963 and 1993, there were only 1,962 over the same period. There were also 3,401 graduates in the country. With the changes Rwandans who graduated from universities Kigali. abroad. MKUR is one of the most notable private uni- According to the book In History of Rwanda; versities in Rwanda, offering high quality in- ternational education. From Beginning to end of the Twentieth Cen- tury by the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission of Rwanda (NURC), the policy was inspired by Rwanda Vision 2020, and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Program (PRSP). “Since the Government of National Unity in- herited a complicated situation in July 1994, education was seen as a last resort in solving THE STORY OF MKUR 2

ROAD TO MKUR Main University Building MKU RWANDA GOOGLE CO-ORDINATES: -1.9862320087203709, 30.097494681039834 MKU Rwanda is located at KK28 Avenue in Kagarama, Kicukiro District, Rwanda. It was established in 2010. It of- fers high quality, internation- al academic programmes, which are approved by the Higher Education Council of Rwanda. The university strives to con- tribute to Rwanda’s human resource pool by training well-trained, competitive professionals in various fields. These include Nursing, Hos- pitality, Tourism, Business, Mass Media, Development, Counselling and Psychology, Public Relations, Diplomacy, Communication Technology, Information Science, and Ed- ucation. “Empowering generations through Education” 3 THE STORY OF MKUR

Pavilion How to get there Study Villas By Bus Rwanda has an efficient pub- lic transport system. There are public buses from Kigali Central Business District or the Bugesera direction to MKUR in Kagarama. By Taxi Whether ride-hail or stand- alones, cabs are also availa- ble. By ‘Moto’ The ubiquitous motorbike taxis are quick and efficient. “Everything important in Rwanda happens on a hill.” - American author Stephen Kinzer in ‘A Thou- sand Hills: Rwanda’s Rebirth and the Man Who Dreamed It.’ THE STORY OF MKUR 4

ROAD TO MKUR Welcome to ‘land of a thousand hills’ The country has four provinces and COUNTRY FACT SHEET the City of Kigali, and a further 30 dis- POPULATION: 13,792,268 (According to World Popula- tricts. tion Review, 2022) The Rwandan people speak English, Kinyarwanda, and Kiswahili. There are LANGUAGES: Kinyarwanda, English, Swahili, French also some French speakers. THE REPUBLIC of Rwanda is a The country has a rich culture that is CURRENCY: landlocked country located in displayed in the beautiful fashion (for Rwandan Francs Central/East Africa. It is nick- both men and women), dances, cul- named ‘Land of 1,000 hills’ because of tural-historical establishments and ECONOMIC MAINSTAY: its many undulating hills. The coun- cuisine. Tourism, Manufacturing, Agriculture try’s capital city is Kigali. NATIONAL HOLIDAYS: Liberation Day (July 4), Heroes Day (Jan- HOLIDAY uary 1); Independence Day (July 1); Na- tional Heroes Day (February 1); Umugan- Kigali is a modern metropolis that ura Day (1st Friday of August); Genocide Against Tutsi Memorial Day (April 7) has consistently been voted for as the cleanest and safest city in Africa. Kigali is the main artery into the coun- COUNTRY CODE: RW +250 try, and is served by Kigali Internation- al Airport - a major international trans- Map of Rwanda NATIONAL ANTHEM: port hub. Rwanda Nziza (SEE PAGE 179) SOURCE: United Nations 5 THE STORY OF MKUR

HIS EXCELLENCY “Rwandans want to live close Paul Kagame, President of to the families they love and watch them thrive. the Republic of They want access to world- Rwanda. class education, right here at home. They aspire to travel the world in search of new ideas and ex- periences, unhindered by bar- riers. And then fly proudly back home to Rwanda, because there is no other place they would rather live.” - H.E. President Paul Kagame, State of the Nation address | Umushyikirano, December 2015 THE STORY OF MKUR 6

ROAD TO MKUR IN RWANDA, there is no higher compliment than to describe someone as “serious”. On the other hand, there is no worse insult than to describe someone as “not serious”. “A good Rwan- dan,” writes Stephen Kinzer in A Thousand Hills: Rwanda’s Rebirth and the Man Who Dreamed It “must be serious and correct. It is a stern ethos, born of both tradition and the crucible of modern Rwanda.” And Rwanda is a serious country. It is seri- ous about Human Development, Competitiveness and Integration, Agriculture for Wealth Creation, Urbanization and Agglomeration, and Accounta- ble and its Capable State Institutions. These are the five pillars of the country’s Vision 2050. Rwanda is also a good place for doing business. According to the World Bank Ease of Doing Business rankings, it is one of only two countries in Africa that feature among the top 50 in the global rankings. Rwanda is also one of the safest and cleanest countries on Kigali Convention Centre at the heart of the city. It is one of the country’s main attrac- the continent. tions, besides being a host for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions. 7 THE STORY OF MKUR

ROAD TO MKUR Tracing the genesis of university When MKUR founder MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY, A young Simon Gicharu during his second- Prof. Simon N. Gicharu MKUR’s parent university, was ary school years at Gathiruini Secondary first visited Rwanda, he founded by Prof. Simon N. Gich- School, Kiambu County, Kenya. hoped to see the world aru. It was one of Gicharu’s favourite subjects in famous gorillas at Vol- The career educationalist was born in 1964 canoes National Park, in Gathiruini village in Kiambu County, Ken- school, alongside Mathematics. Gicharu re- and re-unite with his ya. He undertook his elementary schooling former Biology teacher at Kiawairia Primary School, and thereafter at calls that Mr. Nyombayire’s interactive teach- in high school Mr. Peter Gathiruini Secondary School. He also studied Claver Nyombayire. He at Murang’a High, one of the top performing ing style and resourcefulness endeared him to was successful in the schools in Kenya, before pursuing universi- gorilla trekking but his ty education at Kenyatta University and later his students. hopes of meeting Ny- Cranfied University in the United Kingdom. ombayire were dashed It was while schooling at Gathiruini Second- As a foreigner, Mr. Nyombayire could not when he learnt that he ary between 1979 and 1982 that his curiosity had passed on some about Rwanda was first aroused. speak some of the local languages. This add- few years before. One of his teachers was called Peter Claver Nyombayire. He was usually very well dressed, ed to the mystique about him. his hair neatly combed. He taught Biology. 9 THE STORY OF MKUR

founder’s curiosity about Rwanda Prior to his teaching stint at Gathiruini Sec- ‘Why I honoured my former teacher from Rwanda’ ondary, Mwalimu Peter Claver taught at Mu- hoho Secondary School in Gatundu. Gatundu When I was a Secondary school student at Gathiruini in Kiambu County, Kenya, is the home village of Kenya’s founding Presi- one of my teachers was a well-dressed man f rom Rwanda called Peter Claver dent Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. Nyombayire (Inset). He taught us Biol- ogy, a subject that involved combina- Six years after MKUR founder completed his tion of theory and practical lessons. At Gathiruini Secondary, we had no scien- university education in 1990, he was awarded tific equipment. Mwalimu Nyombayire often fabricated equipment in order to a scholarship to undertake a course in Entre- teach us, and when it was not possible, he used humour by asking us to close preneurship and Enterprise Management at our eyes and imagine what the practical was about. He never absconded teaching Cranfield University, U.K. due to lack of equipment. During one The transoceanic travel and Mwalimu Peter Claver’s commitment to leave Rwanda for lesson on how to make Sodium Chloride Gathiruini Secondary School in Kiambu [salt], he told us to imagine the ingre- County, Kenya, where MKUR founder had his first ‘taste of Rwanda’ in the 1980s. dients boiling inside a test-tube. It was a form of ‘virtual practicals’. Kenya for the sake of education exposed Prof. Many years later after I Gicharu to the transformative importance of Gicharu recalls: “Mwalimu (as he was fondly education. invested in education, I referred to) was very committed to his work. When opportunity to establish an education- He taught even beyond class time. I remem- al footprint in Rwanda arose, it was met by a told myself that I would ber him visiting our home many times where passion for a country he first knew about in he met my parents. He was always eager to the 1980s through a former teacher. do anything possible to know whether I did revision after school. He inspired us and had a good sense of humour.” provide my students with all the equipment so that I would also not tell them to close their eyes and imagine what was being taught. Our library at MKUR is named in honour MofwMalwimaulimPeuterNCyolamvebras yN- YOMBAYIRE ire. Posthumously Honoured by -Prof. Simon N. GichaPrruof (Dr.) Simon N. Gicharu, CBM MOUNT KENYA 10 UNIVERISTY THE STROWRAYNDOAF MKUR Empowering Generation Through Education

ROAD TO MKUR MKUR founder: Educationalist with MKU RWANDA IS a scion of Mount Kenya University, one of the largest private universities in East and Central Africa. It traces its roots to 1996 when its founder Prof. Simon N. Gicharu, a career educationalist started a computer outreach programme tar- trepreneurship and Enterprise Management Prof. Simon Gicha- geting unemployed youth in rural Kenya. at Cranfield University’s School of Manage- ru (Right) receives The outreach programme equipped youth ment in the United Kingdom (U.K). the MKU Charter with computer skills at a time the country’s Here, he witnessed the desire young Africans from third Pres- economy was undergoing computerisation. harboured for quality higher education. Some ident of Kenya Some of his pioneer trainees secured jobs at of the Africans who were not on scholarship Mwai Kibaki on local tea factories to manage the newly com- encountered many financial challenges as January 11, 2011. puterised records. This was Prof. Gicharu’s they combined work with self-sponsored ed- The Charter cer- first-hand encounter on the importance of tified MKU as a proffering skills that are relevant for the job fully-fledged uni- market. versity. In mid 1995, Prof. Gicharu was awarded a ucation, which was unaffordable to many. scholarship by the British Council to study En- Prof. Gicharu asked himself: Why couldn’t the African continent find homegrown solutions that would equip young people with higher education at home first before exploring oth- er opportunities abroad? He vowed to do something about it in future. Once back in Kenya, he continued with the 11 THE STORY OF MKUR

interest of continental Africa at heart computer training, under a Non-Government tor of Technical Training as the “leading pri- IGIHEMBO! MKUR Founder has received numerous awards Organization he founded called Kenya Entre- vate technical and vocational education and Prof. Simon Gicharu preneurship Promotion. He also shared the training institution in Kenya.” was inducted into the EY World Entre- entrepreneurial lessons he had learnt from By that time, it not only offered an array of preneur of the Year Awards Hall of Fame Cranfield University with youth who wanted market-driven Diploma programmes but in Monaco, 2015. to pursue self-employment. also Degree programmes in partnership with Dr. Gicharu became a Professor at the 12th Those who wanted to pursue training at Di- Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and graduation ceremony of the International Uni- ploma or Degree level prodded him for aca- Technology. versity of Management in Windhoek, Namibia demic certificates that would serve as a step- Owing to this growth, TIT morphed into a uni- in 2016. ping stone. versity called Mount Kenya University. The in- Receiving the hon- orary doctorate The request saw Prof. Gicharu establish a col- stitution derives it name from Mount Kenya, from Gulu University Vice-Chancellor Prof. lege by the name Thika School of Manage- the second tallest mountain in East Africa - af- Nyeko Pen-Mogi in October, 2014. ment Studies (TSMS). The college was regis- ter Mount Kilimanjaro. In 2013, Prof. Gicharu was awarded tered by the Ministry of Education Science It was accredited by Kenya’s Commission for the 1st Class Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS) by Kenya’s and Technology (MoEST). Higher Education in 2008. then President Mwai Kibaki. It was in recognition of his Later, TSMS grew into Thika Institute of Tech- Three years later, Mount Kenya University contribution to the growth of tertiary education. nology (TIT) with a diversified curriculum but was awarded a full Charter by Kenya’s then mainly focused on technology and science. President Mwai Kibaki, confirming it as a ful- In 2006, TIT was recognised by MoEST’s Direc- ly-fledged institution of higher learning. THE STORY OF MKUR 12

ROAD TO MKUR Flagging off the dream: History of the BESIDES THE INTEREST in Rwan- da sowed into the heart of MKUR founder Prof. Simon Gicharu by a good teacher, the university’s entry into the country was inspired by inquiries from Rwan- da citizens. From the mid-to-late 2000s, the mother insti- tution in Kenya underwent a transition from an Institute of Technology to a fully-fledged university. In the quest to keep the public updated about this transition- and the academic pro- grammes offered- the institution placed ad- vertisements in many daily newspapers. One of these newspapers was the East Afri- can Standard, published in Kenya but circu- lating throughout the region. It brought together Prof. Gicharu and an in- Mount Kenya University founder and Board of Directors Chairman hands over keys to a trepid young man called Henry Musisi who fleet of vehicles for MKU Kigali Campus (as it was known) to Vice Chancellor Prof. Stanley Waudo. 13 THE STORY OF MKUR

university’s entry into Rwanda worked at the newspaper.. fered through a partnership with the govern- Henry Musisi: The meeting sparked a close working relation- ment-owned Jomo Kenyatta University of Ag- The file on admission ship that strengthened over the years, later on riculture and Technology (JKUAT). inquiries was grow- bearing a job for Mr. Musisi at MKUR. Through a translator, TIT learnt that the Rwan- ing bigger with every Having studied the trends in international ed- dan students yearned for an international ed- newspaper advertise- ucation in the East African region, Mr. Musisi ucation. ment. convinced the management at Thika Institute In the quest to provide this education, TIT de- of Technology (as the Mount Kenya University cided not to re-invent the wheel. If its part- forerunner college was known) to advertise in nership with JKUAT had been successful in the widely circulating newspaper. They did. reaching more students, it would be equally “We received 25 inquiries for our academ- successful if it partnered with a local college ic programmes from interested students in in Rwanda. The country was on an upward trajectory af- Rwanda,” recalls Prof. Gicharu. “Almost all of Members of TIT management visited Rwanda ter a difficult past. Through a local contact, them were written in Kinyarwanda or French.” and met some of the discerning students who TIT management met Dr. Zulfat Mukarubega, The courses were Diploma in Pharmacy, In- had sent inquiries. founder and legal representative of Rwanda formation Technology, Hospitality and Tour- They also surveyed the local higher education Tourism University College (RTUC). ism, and Degree programmes in Commerce, landscape and were impressed by the pre- The college was one of the main players in Medical Laboratory Sciences, and Science dominantly youthful population eager to ac- the country’s tertiary education sector. Dr. in Analytical Chemistry, which were co-of- quire quality education. Mukarubega had launched it in 2006, after THE STORY OF MKUR 14

ROAD TO MKUR yan university. The collaboration agreement was signed on October 27, 2008, in Nairobi, Kenya. It was a historic moment witnessed by offi- cials from the Rwandan Embassy in Nairobi. Emmanuel Murenzi, former commercial at- taché, represented the then Ambassador Her Excellency Joy Mukanyange. Prof. Stanley Waudo, the then MKU Vice Chan- Dr. Zulfat Mukarubega, founder, Rwanda Tourism Univer- cellor represented the university while RTUC sity College (now University of Tourism, Technology and was represented by Dr. Mukarubega and Ca- Business Studies) and her MKUR counterpart Prof. Simon lixte Kabera, the Rector. Gicharu sign a partnership. RIGHT: A newspaper article Others present at the ceremony were Prof. announcing the partnership. conducting a six-year feasibility study. sity after it was granted a Letter of Interim Au- Gicharu and the then MKU Dean of Students An entrepreneur and philanthropist, she knew thority by Commission for Higher Education Peter Waweru. the Rwanda higher education landscape like in Kenya. the back of her hand. It was good news for Rwandan students who In the course of discussing about the partner- would enrol through RTUC since they could ship, TIT graduated into Mount Kenya Univer- acquire international degrees from the Ken- 15 THE STORY OF MKUR

Kenya and Rwanda have always enjoyed close ties YEAR 2000 WAS momentous for two “The trips by the two presidents marked East African nations that gave birth to the MKU Rwanda campus. the beginning of close ties between the On April 22, 2000, President Paul Kagame two nations. President Moi and Presi- took the oath of office. Nearly a month later, dent Kagame made public pronounce- on May 12, 2000, the then Kenyan President, ments on the cooperation they wanted Daniel Arap Moi, landed with his entourage at to cultivate.” Kigali International Airport. He was on a one- day working visit to Rwanda. In a lovely encounter, President Moi met and The role of driving home the message that congratulated his host, President Kagame. Rwanda was open for Kenyans and other in- Two months later, President Kagame recip- ternational investors lay on the hands of Joy rocated. Precisely on Friday July 14, 2000, His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Mukanyange, the then Rwandan Ambassa- at 10.30am Kenyan time, his plane touched Republic of Rwanda. dor to Kenya. Amb. Mukanyage, made it her down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Air- made public pronouncements on the coop- mission to woo Kenyan expatriates to go and port, Nairobi. eration they wanted to cultivate. President work in Rwanda. This campaign bore fruit, The trips by the two presidents marked the Kagame said Rwanda was open for Kenyan and, consequently, hordes of Kenyan profes- beginning of close ties between the two na- expatriates and investors. The country was re- sionals streamed into Rwanda. The East Afri- tions. President Moi and President Kagame building after the effects of the 1994 Genocide can nation welcomed them with open arms. Against Tutsi. THE STORY OF MKUR 16

ROAD TO MKUR How students’ request for specific Key Enablers courses gave rise to MKU Rwanda East African Community Com- MKU STARTED BY partnering Rwandan students to graduate with a Bach- mon Market Protocol ratified by with Rwanda Tourism University elor’s degrees from MKU. And as they made the f ive Partner States namely College, whose core academic history, they launched MKU onto a path to es- Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi, Uganda and Tanzania. programmes were in Tourism and Hospitality. tablishing a permanent presence. Conducive environment by the Government of Rwanda and its The programmes were timely since the coun- “They were pleasantly surprised to find that we institutions such as the RDB and Higher Education Council. try was rebranding itself as a major interna- offered an array of academic programmes,” Welcoming nature and friendli- ness of the Rwandan people. They tional tourism destination. recalls the first Vice Chancellor Prof. Stanley were also eager to acquire interna- tional education. Fast forward to the year 2022 and Rwanda has Waudo. “This gave them several career op- MKU Rwanda students on a past visit to the become the choice destination for Meetings, tions. One of them even mentioned that she’d university’s mother country in Kenya. Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions tourism. have preferred to undertake a programme in Those who started their journey into this line health sciences to fulfil her dream of working now have successful careers. in the medical field.” Besides Tourism and Hospitality, another pop- Other graduands mentioned the career as- ular programme with the Rwandan students pirations of their siblings and expressed their was Bachelor of Business Information Tech- wish to have the programmes available in nology. The first batch of 92 students held Rwanda. It was the trigger MKU management Diplomas from Kigali Institute of Technolo- required to set up a permanent university in gy. They would later make history as the first Rwanda. 17 THE STORY OF MKUR

‘White Paper’ paves way for University setting up base in Rwanda HEEDING THE CALL by students Rwanda’s Ministry of Education from Rwanda, Mount Kenya Uni- approved the establishment of MKU versity sought to establish a Cam- Kigali Campus on the basis of: pus in Rwanda in 2010. The institution applied for approval from the Mt. Kenya University is a fully accredited institution of higher learning in Kenya and therefore falls under the Cross-Border provision of the Rwanda Code of Practice. Ministry of Education. A White Paper with a The curriculum to be offered will be the same as summary of the university’s history in Kenya, used in the accredited institution in Kenya. accreditation credentials, and its higher edu- Mt. Kenya University will award degrees of the cation plans for Rwanda was addressed to the Kenyan institution, which falls under the mutual rec- ognition protocols of the East African Community. then Minister of Education Dr. Charles Murig- Mt. Kenya University has a memorandum of under- ande. standing with RTUC in Rwanda to rent premises On April 28, 2010, the Ministry approved the where it will conduct classes. application. “On the basis of the White Paper submitted, the Ministry of Education grants of MKU that influenced the positive decision and the requirement for registration with the MKU permission to open a campus of the par- by the Ministry. Rwanda Development Board (RDB) as an in- ent institution in Kenya,” a letter by Dr. Murig- vestor in Rwanda,” the letter added. ande addressed to MKU board chairman Prof. “As required in the cross-border provision With this letter in hand, the sky was truly the Simon Gicharu read in part. of the Code of Practice Mt. Kenya University limit for MKU in Rwanda. Henry Musisi, who The approval letter listed four core attributes Rwanda Campus will adhere to the provisions had since left the East African Standard (See of the National Qualifications Framework THE STORY OF MKUR 18

ROAD TO MKUR page 14) to work in the Marketing and Public Pioneer Location Relations department of the university says they laboured day and night to get the cam- pus off the ground. “We started bringing in some of the learning materials and infrastructure from Kenya even as student inquiries poured in,” Mr. Musisi re- counts. “Alongside my colleagues namely Laila Pen- do, Milly Kayibanda, Zachary Thiga, Stanley Kirika (founding Principal at the Campus), Humphrey Mutegi, Douglas Nyambura and Florence Waweru, we worked past hours and cleaned up the premises ready for the stu- dents on a fresh day.” WHERE IT ALL STARTED: This building along KN4 Avenue in Kigali was the first location of The premises was along KN4 Avenue in Kiga- Mount Kenya University in Rwanda. It was then a campus under the wings of the mother li. It became the first location of MKU Kigali university in Kenya. The two-floor building had a versatile design that accommodated lec- Campus. ture rooms, a library, help desk, staff offices and other facilities essential in the day-to-day running of a campus. A good number of the students were working professionals seeking to bolster their skills and competitiveness. They attended evening courses. As the student numbers grew, the university opened more locations enroute to building its own permanent premises. 19 THE STORY OF MKUR

One foot infront of another: Campus dream takes shape THE CAMPUS developed fast, owing learning in the evening classes,” says Mr. Mu- such as Pharmacy, Nursing, Public Health, En- to good reception by Rwandan stu- sisi. vironmental Science, Medical Laboratory, and dents who were eager to get an in- The university operated the centre for five Communication and Mass Media contributed ternational education. months in 2012, later moving to Camp Kigali, to the opening of Kicukiro Science Centre in “After opening MKUR in August 2010 in Kigali Nyamirambo, which was a larger facility. April 2011. city on Avenue De La Paix (now KK Avenue), The huge demand for science programmes The university Board invested heavily in the the campus was filled to full capacity within Kicukiro Centre seven months,” recalls Henry Musisi, MKUR Marketing Director. This naturally led to opening of other centres at Camp Kigali, St Paul Pastoral centre, and Kicukiro. The latter focused on science train- ing. The centres were well served by public trans- port. This provided students and staff easy ac- cess to hospitals, sporting facilities, shopping centres and food markets. “St Paul Pastoral centre, which we rented from the Catholic Church, was situated within the KICUKIRO CENTRE, which was popular with regular students undertaking Science vicinity of Kigali City centre and was used for programmes. THE STORY OF MKUR 20

ROAD TO MKUR keting, Postgraduate and School of Business offices. In the year 2011, Dr. Jane Nyutu, MKU MKU co-founder co-founder and a member of the Board offi- and Board mem- cially opened the Kicukiro e-learning Centre. ber Dr. Jane Nyutu During the launch, the campus celebrated its cuts a tape to one-year anniversary in Rwanda. mark the official Prof. Callixte Kabera, (Rector at RTUC-now launch of MKUR UTB), and officials from the Ministry of Educa- e-learning at the tion and Kicukiro District attended the cere- Kicukiro Centre. mony. Looking on is the Dr. Nyutu was complimentary of the campus’ then Director Prof. Musa Nyakora and other staff mem- bers. centres. Camp Kigali was equipped with a li- fice, and a canteen. achievements, including starting online learn- brary, classrooms, offices and IT laboratories. It also housed the office of the director of the ing in Rwanda. She thanked the government At Kicukiro Science Centre, modern science campus, the dean of students, various heads for allowing MKU to operate in Rwanda and laboratories plus a radio lab for the School of of departments in the health sciences and the the support accorded to the campus. Journalism were set up. The centre was also School of Journalism, Career Guidance and She described the journey MKUR was taking equipped with classrooms, a library, confer- Counselling. as “reflective and analytical”, and addressed ence room, a modern IEMBA class, MKUSA of- It also housed the Examination, Finance, Mar- the various challenges faced by online learn- 21 THE STORY OF MKUR

ing and how the university was committed to ing and helped to increase productivity. Camp Kigali tackle the challenges by consistently invest- Staff and students found the centre an inspir- This place has an interesting history. It was once a correctional facility. But whereas there is a similar- ing more in learning facilities. ing and exhilarating place for studying. It also ity between an educational institution and a cor- rectional facility - in that one develops talents and Prof. Nyakora said the campus would take promoted communication between individ- the other character-, MKUR pitched camp here only in the short term. The facility was spacious, advantage of the enabling environment pro- uals and students, thus strengthening team alright, and served the growing pool of day and evening students. But in line with its vision and vided by the government and offer quality cohesion. ultimate goal of establishing its own permanent learning infrastructure, MKUR did not want its training in the fields relevant for Rwanda’s To translate its vision into reality, MKUR staff students to have a historical connection with the suspected law breakers formerly incarcerated at economic growth, while complying with the and students actively participated in commu- the Camp. This accelerated its dream to establish its own university building. Higher Education Council guidelines. nity activities such as ‘Umuganda’, a monthly Camp Kigali in Nyamirambo. It was one With a total space of about 1,200m sq and clean-up exercise. They also organised blood of the centres of MKU Kigali Campus. housed on a three-storeyed building, Kicukiro donation activities. centre symbolised the MKUR corporate cul- Students took up sporting activities, drama, ture and commitment to providing adequate debates and cultural activities like ‘Mr and learning facilities for students. It was a central Miss MKUR’. location for about 60 staff members and a The centre hosted ISO 9001: 2015 trainings and growing student population. short courses. It was open throughout the The centre helped in cementing a new work- week, serving day and evening students. ing environment. The shorter distances be- tween departments encouraged team build- THE STORY OF MKUR 22

ROAD TO MKUR Pioneer Programmes Word from pioneer director At inception in the year 2010, “I loved Kinyarwanda. I loved the people. Hunger for education was conspicu- MKU Kigali Campus (as MKUR ously written all over. As an educator, I felt that the challenge was much more was known then) aspired to offer fulfilling than it was worthwhile.” an array of Certificate, Diploma and Bachelors degree academic programmes: Bachelor of Business Information Dr. Stanley K. Kirika, PhD, who was at MKUR at its inception. Technology IN AUGUST 2010, I went to Kigali as the ment when I had first met Prof. Simon Gich- Bachelor of Commerce founding director of MKU Kigali campus. I aru, the MKU Chairman and Founder, on 29 had the huge task of steering the process. July 2010. Bachelor of Arts in International Relations I had visited Rwanda only a year earlier; an I loved Kinyarwanda. I loved the people. Hun- Bachelor of Pharmacy Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Bachelor of Arts in Tourism & Hospitality Management Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Mass Communication Diploma in Information Technology Certificate in English language Master of Business Administration event I later learnt had played a substantial ger for education was conspicuously written part in the decision to hand me the assign- all over. As an educator, I felt that the challenge 23 THE STORY OF MKUR

was much more fulfilling than it was worthwhile. “I was elated and felt vindicated takeaway from the experience. Besides offsetting Rwanda was in the process of changing over when the East African third Joint domestic bills, the professional visibility earned from its colonial master’s Francophone educa- Medical Regulatory Bodies ranked me an opportunity to set up Equip Africa in Nai- tion system to Anglophone. You can bet English MKU’s Medical School as the best.” robi (then Institute of Capacity Building) as the was a great challenge to Rwandans in general, first director. That was in May 2013. both to write and to speak. For this reason, I had It excites me greatly to hear the mention of to introduce compulsory English classes along- Mount Kenya University rivalling long established side mainstream course units to enhance at least public universities in Kenya in matters of quality written English, if not the spoken. night to serve 600 students expected in January education. It is on this basis that I have recom- After door-to-door marketing, the initial enrol- 2011. Gladly, I managed. mended two students to enrol in the university’s ment of 134 MBA students and 14 Bachelor of Lots of Rwandan government sponsored stu- Medical School. Commerce students had given me a great sense dents set the campus on the pathway to success. Naturally, I was elated and felt proud when of achievement, hence the confidence and inspi- I was able to have run a staff of 26 without a sin- the East African 3rd Joint Medical Regulato- ration to steer the campus higher. gle application for transfer back to Kenya. The ry Bodies ranked MKU’s Medical School as the Human resource for the campus was my next staff would assist in serving in other capacities to best in Kenya (See page 102). greatest challenge. I had to source most of work- generate extra income, both for the campus and As a frequent visitor to Rwanda, I’ve had numer- ers from Kenya. for themselves, through the Income Generating ous encounters with the campus alumni in vari- The notice was short; really short, for the campus Activities policy of the university. ous forums. required at least 20 full-time lecturers in a fort- Managing through cultural diversity is a great THE STORY OF MKUR 24

ROAD TO MKUR Why MKUR quickly became the preferred choice for Rwandans seeking international higher education Housing was nevertheless expensive then. Generally, the cost of living was high, large- ly attributed to gradual development of the country during post-genocide. In 2011, Rwanda had only one public university – the National University of Rwanda (NUR) – located some 200km from the capital city of Kigali. There were also just a few private uni- versities and middle level colleges. MKU had become the first foreign university to set foot Prof. Tom Nyamache: “We attracted 1,000 applications in the first semester. Most of the stu- in the country and was the preferred desti- dents then were pursuing postgraduate studies (MBA).” nation for higher education by Rwandans. As new as we were, we attracted over 1,000 ap- Prof. Tom Nyamache joined MKU Rwan- “RWANDA OFFERED AN interesting plications in our first semester. However, most da campus in January 2011 as Chief Ac- experience altogether: strict laws, of the students then were pursuing postgrad- ademic Officer. Six months later, he clean city, disciplined people, staunch uate studies (MBA). They preferred MKU be- was appointed Principal for a period of Seventh Adventists, great and variety of foods, cause they had found out that our curriculum three years. He shares his recollections: just to name a few good things. had good content. 25 THE STORY OF MKUR

My job description covered the following du- mentation of campus budget estimates and conversation. ties: providing overall direction, organisation, operational budgets; enhancing university I had wonderful personnel whose support administration, and marketing of programmes corporate image; promoting participation in made me succeed in my administration. The of the campus; planning, implementing and community outreach programmes; and en- students with whom I started the campus coordinating teaching programmes; promot- suring availability of adequate academic re- were committed and many of them are now ing research, innovations, and publications; sources. decision makers in government and the pri- championing best governance practices; pro- I helped establish collaboration with RTUC vate sector. I have a good feeling because what moting and sustaining the academic stand- through the BBIT programme. I was also pres- started as a campus is now a fully-fledged uni- ing of the campus; being responsible for gen- ent at the opening of Kicukiro Centre. Further, versity of repute. eral student and staff discipline and welfare; I signed MoUs between MKU Kigali Campus The education sector in Rwanda is now rich- initiating and coordinating campus income and RPA-Rwanda, KASNEB and IPAR Rwanda. er than it was before the entry of MKU. I am generating units; and ensuring compliance Working in Rwanda increased my experience, proud to have added my voice to the progress with university policies, regulations and ser- especially in starting an institution from al- the country made in the education sector, vice charter. most zero to one of the well-established cam- especially in higher learning, through an ar- I was also responsible for coordinating activ- puses in the region. ticle on Rwanda’s main newspaper, ‘The New ities relating to conferences, seminars, work- I also got a chance to learn much about the Times’, of 14 July 2011. shops and in-service courses for capacity Abanyarwanda and their culture. Kinyarwan- The eye-opening article was titled: “Higher building; ensuring maintenance of proper re- da is Bantu and sounds more like Gĩkũyũ and Education in Rwanda: Opportunities and cords; overseeing the preparation and imple- Ekegusii. I could pick a lot from a Kinyarwanda Challenges. THE STORY OF MKUR 26



UBUMWE NI IMBARAGA Unity is strength

UBUMWE NI IMBARAGA MKUR gets into psyche of Rwandans as it entrenches its IN AUGUST 2010, Kigali witnessed a new Anyone who bothered to look closely at these work. phenomenon. Suddenly, streets in the late evening crowds would have noticed Among them were working people who could central business district, which would pre- something common among them. They car- only attend evening classes – after completing viously be deserted by 7pm, started getting ried with them, books and/or files. their daily shift. busy until late. Hordes of people huddled to- These were ambitious Rwandans who had Before August 2010, evening classes were gether at bus stops as late as 9pm – a specta- trooped back to university to earn postgrad- unheard of in Kigali. They did not exist. In cle never seen before in the city. uate qualifications. They wanted to advance those days, higher education institutions in What had caused the change? academically so as to become better in their the country conducted only day classes. Em- ployed people or those running business- es during the day could not leave their work to attend these classes. They longed for, but couldn’t. Circumstances did not allow. Then Mount Kenya University established a campus here, and soon after, introduced evening and weekend classes. Working peo- ple got the opportunity they had desired. They would earn from their day’s work and use the money to sponsor their postgraduate educa- MKUR students pore over books at the institution’s libary. The university’s market-driven aca- tion in the evening. demic programmes quickly gained popularity among the predominantly youthful population. MKU Rwanda had brought a significant shift 29 THE STORY OF MKUR

academic roots in Rwanda’s higher education sector. It be- “ The campus is also a manifestation of Rwan- came possible for Rwandans to learn after da’s warm hospitality, extended to investors work. They did not have to quit their jobs. They MKUR pioneered evening classes such as those behind MKU. did not have to uproot themselves from their in Rwanda; employed students The Government of Rwanda threw its doors country in search of further education abroad could earn during the day and wide open to the investors and guided them and leave their families behind. learn in the evenings, thanks to to prosper. MKU wrote history when it became Introducing evening and weekend classes is this flexibility. the first East African university to successfully one of the many things MKU introduced in initiate and sustain cross-border education in Rwanda and ended up building a reputation commitments during the day find evening Rwanda. The phrase ‘cross-border education’ in the country’s academic circles. and weekend classes just perfect. Others are had not been tried and tested in Rwanda, until Whereas by August 2010 the acronym MKU more comfortable learning from wherever MKU came into the scene. was mentioned only in some places in Rwan- they are, whenever they want. They, therefore, At the same time, cross-border education was da, a few years after, it had become a house- opt for online studies. a totally new experience for MKU. Through its hold name. What has been the impact of this kind of ac- programmes, it had to abide by Rwanda’s na- Accessibility, made possible by MKU’s many cess to higher education? How has the cam- tional qualification framework, rules and reg- modules, has also contributed to making the pus affected communities around it? ulations. university attractive to students in search of MKU Rwanda is the labour of love that many Fully accredited in Kenya, MKU quickly be- learning that suits their specific, unique cir- hands and minds have nurtured with dedica- came ‘a child of two worlds.’ And Rwandans cumstances. While those directly from high tion for over a decade. quickly embraced it as one of their own. school prefer fulltime classes, the ones with THE STORY OF MKUR 30

UBUMWE NI IMBARAGA “We launched a very successful International Executive Prof. Musa Nyakora joined MKU Rwan- Board represent- da in 2010 as head of the Research De- ative Mr. Sam partment. After a few months, he was Ng’ang’a (left) appointed campus principal and MKUR prin- cipal Prof. Musa “BEFORE JOINING MKU, I had been in Nyakora present Rwanda as a principal consultant of a a calendar to Eq- regional consulting firm called Insti- uity Bank Rwan- da officials after the two institu- tions signed an MoU in January, 2012. tute of Fundraising and Resource Mobilisation Network (IFRDN). Therefore, Rwanda was like a second home. At MKUR, we had four centres. In addition, the tarama in Gasabo district. national Executive MBA (IEMBA) programme, university had established two marketing and The campus was offering slightly over 10 un- mainly for government leaders and other pri- awareness satellite centres in two provinces: dergraduate courses and more than seven vate sector personalities. The programme fo- Nyamagabe satellite, and Karonji marketing Master’s programmes in various disciplines, cused on sharpening practical skills. satellite centres. among them pharmacy, nursing, business, MKU was regarded as a role-model for univer- MKU had also acquired two parcels of land for social sciences and education, just to mention sity education in Rwanda. I recall that in one future development, namely: one in Kagara- but a few. of the Higher Education Council (HEC) meet- ma in Kicukiro district; and the other in Nyaru- We were also running a very successful Inter- ings with all the university rectors/principals, 31 THE STORY OF MKUR

MBA programme” the HEC CEO, Prof Geoffrey Rugege, urged It is no surprise that many government min- other university rectors (VCs) to emulate MKU, istries and other semi-government organisa- which was already running very successful tions in the country have several graduates of programmes. MKUR within their ranks. It is my honest opinion that MKU Rwanda has Cherished Memories made a big contribution to the education sec- tor in Rwanda since its inception. ■ I managed to cause change in the educa- tion sector by introducing English as a sole medium of instruction, whereas most of the other universities were still shuttling between Prof. Musa Nyakora: MKUR has made a big “ French, Kinyarwanda and some English in contribution to the Rwandan education sector. their instructional and learning sessions. ■ I managed to put in place several academic (iii) Approvals by the Commission for MKUR had also acquired two performance measurement tools and guide- University Education (Kenya) and HEC parcels of land for future devel- lines, such as: (Rwanda), both of them being higher opment, namely: one in Kagara- (i) Management Information System education oversight authorities. ma in Kicukiro district; and the (MIS) In fact, MKU scored very highly in this area, other in Nyarutarama in Gasabo (ii) Quality Management System hence the favourable cross-reference by the district. (QMS) leadership of the education sector in Rwanda. THE STORY OF MKUR 32

UBUMWE NI IMBARAGA Supporting Rwanda’s transition from French to English ONE THING THAT distinguished first official language. Rwandans largely use English speakers have perfected their gram- MKUR from other universities native Kinyarwanda, and also sprinklings of mar and diction. This has helped them gain right from the onset was its focus French. competitive advantage in careers where lan- on the use of English language as the tool for In 2008, the country adopted English as its guage proficiency (oral and written) is a must. curriculum instruction, and communication official language. The transition from Franco- In March 2017, MKUR hosted a major confer- within the campus. phone to Anglophone would be propped up ence on use of the English language in Rwan- English is the most spoken language in the by language lessons such as those offered at da. The event brought together English as a world. Data shows over 1.13 billion people speak MKUR. Second Language (ESL) teachers, specialists, the language. In the East African Community, The university has an English lab dedicated and publishers. of which Rwanda is a member, English is the for such training. Through this lab, non-native The conference theme was: “Emerging Issues Jean de in Education and English Language Learning.” Dieu, Besides its impact on the education scene and future training in the English language, it was English felt that the conference would be beneficial to language- the country at large. instructor Rwanda had observed that many foreign in- with stu- dents at the MKUR English lab vestors coming into the country used English as the main medium of communication. Hence, MKU Rwanda’s initiative to invite schol- 33 THE STORY OF MKUR

ars to discuss ways of boosting the quality of er than students, entrepreneurs in Rwanda MKUR stu- English language among its graduates was a would also need help with their English. dents who noble contribution to this effort. The confer- The university was further asked to work close- participated ence provided the clearest indication of the ly with employers keen on sponsoring staff in the English university’s keenness on lifting the standards for English courses. Conference participants conference of English language among Rwandans. asked MKUR to design programmes that organised by “Today, it’s almost impossible to be in big po- would specifically suit such working students. the campus sition of employment for a company if you do Milly Kayibanda, one of the conference attend- display their not speak English language,” stated a section ees says it was a timely discourse as the coun- certificates of of the abridged version of the conference re- try prepares to go full throttle on the interna- participation. port. tional economic scene. The Govern- A key recommendation that came out of the ment of Rwan- conference was that MKUR should put in place da’s switch to an elaborate system for enabling more Rwan- English also dans, and not just its graduates, to improve gave MKU im- their English. petus to open The establishment of a “language proficien- a campus in cy laboratory” at the university was thus pro- the country. posed. This was in light of the fact that oth- Ms. Kayibanda works at MKUR, having joined as a French-speaking intern several years ago. She was initially absorbed as possible transla- tor on marketing and outreach programmes. Later on, she enrolled for a Bachelors degree in Social Work. “We were taught in English. It was a very good experience because the lec- turers were patient with us.” In just two years and three months, she grad- uated and now, confidently speaks very good English. THE STORY OF MKUR 34

UBUMWE NI IMBARAGA The wholesome, vibrant student life at MKU Rwanda IT IS GENERALLY accepted that a good tion and communication. university is one which presents students with the opportunity to experience life in Co-curricular Activities all its forms. In fact, it is while at university that MKUR offers a wide range of extra-curricular many young people make lasting friends and activities that open opportunities for talent gain networks that become useful all through management. Students participate in nation- the remaining parts of the lives. How is MKUR al, regional and international events that ex- fairing in this respect? Some brief insights: pose them to wider knowledge beyond aca- A past edition of the Mr. and Miss MKUR demics. beauty pageant. Modern hostels development. Sports help in the development MKUR provides modern student-friendly hos- Sports of mental health and the body’s physical fit- tels to accommodate those who opt to reside Sports are an important part of growth and ness. Sports play a major role in shaping char- in campus. Those who do so benefit from acter. Sports bring students together and en- their choice, given that living in campus of- trenches a sense of unity. fers a number of advantages. It promotes so- Through participation in sports, students gain cial networking, allowing students of diverse the skills, experience and confidence that are backgrounds to connect, become friends, and helpful in shaping positive personalities. develop useful life skills such as interpersonal At MKUR, students get the opportunity to en- relationships, critical thinking, conflict resolu- A swimming instructor imparts some skills gage in various sports, such as basketball, ath- on the MKUR students. 35 THE STORY OF MKUR