Ex-police boss Kimaiyo among students to graduate with PhDs from UoN

Former Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo alights from his car during a past event. Mr Kimaiyo is among 57 PhD students who will graduate from the University of Nairobi on September 2, 2016. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Vice-Chancellor Peter Mbithi said students who will graduate are from colleges of agriculture and veterinary, architecture and engineering, biological and physical sciences, education and external studies.
  • The university produces over 100 doctor of philosophy degree annually, boasts 189,000 graduates, has 1,350 international linkages and offers 584 programmes.

Former Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo is among the 57 PhD students expected to graduate from the University of Nairobi on Friday.

And among the over 4,379 students who will graduate during the institution's 55th ceremony, billionaire businessman Peter Munga will receive an honorary degree.

Of that total number 995 will graduate with diplomas, bachelor’s degrees (2,761), and postgraduate diplomas (20) and master's degrees (545).

Vice-Chancellor Peter Mbithi said students who will graduate are from colleges of agriculture and veterinary, architecture and engineering, biological and physical sciences, education and external studies.

“Students graduating from these four colleges have been trained to cause technological disruptions geared towards transforming Kenya into a middle income country by 2030,” said Prof Mbithi.

The university produces over 100 doctor of philosophy degree annually, boasts 189,000 graduates, has 1,350 international linkages and offers 584 programmes.

The university has a research budget of Sh4.5 billion, 5,525 administrative and technical staff, 2,052 academic staff, and over 450 professors serving a population of 84,000 students.

The event will be presided over by Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.

Prof Mbithi said Mr Munga was proposed for the award by the university's School of Economics for his entrepreneurship role in the country.

The proposal was tabled before the university Senate, which was satisfied that Mr Munga was qualified to receive the award.

Prof Mbithi said this award of an honorary degree to someone from industry is the first one, noting that universities must be ready to work with the industry.

“We have reasons that made us consider Mr Munga for this award; he is an ordinary Kenyan who came from a humble background. He is a consummate investor and entrepreneur and a known philanthropist,” said Prof Mbithi.

The vice-chancellor added that Mr Munga has supported young entrepreneurs, noting that for the country and larger Africa to develop, there must be jobs and those jobs can be achieved through industry.