Makokha's Memo

Though remembered more for his support for the arts – by putting together and preserving what has often been described as Africa’s most important art collection, Murumbi has booked for himself a place in history that cannot be destroyed by wilful or official embarrassment at his principles.

His art collection, which is now in the Murumbi Gallery at the Kenya National Archives artefacts and stamps, while the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi, will soon be the home of his collection of rare books and other artefacts that were on the verge of being shipped out of Kenya.

Murumbi co-founded African Heritage, and it will be making a big comeback with the African Heritage Night at the Hotel Inter-Continental where my old political science classmate Agnes Alando makes a comeback as a model, and Mickey Ragos (aka Mr Kenya for 22 years) comes out of retirement to join his son Fred Sanya, who is the reigning heavyweight Mr Kenya.

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Uniform at university

Despite the denials, it is now quite clear that the leadership at Kenya’s top performing state corporation is intent on changing its management style.

Kenyatta University, more renowned for being a well-run state corporation than a university, is determined to earn another first by introducing uniform.

It is just that they are using loads of English to describe it as a dress code.

A friend of mine who teaches at the university is contemplating sudden departure at the prospect of having to not only purchase an ugly T-shirt, but also wear it on Friday as part of a dress-down.

That is part of mandatory regulations for teaching staff, complete with philosopher’s degrees. There is no telling what will happen to support staff.

The students, too, are expected to dress decently because their representatives, who constitute less than 10 per cent of the university senate, will have a say in the matter — even though decisions are made by a show of hands.

Were it that the university concentrated on what is in the students’ and lecturers’ heads rather than their outward appearances, it would be closer to fulfilling the requirements of its charter and the law that set it up.