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MKU scoops pretigious award

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Mount Kenya University (MKU) is the recipient of the Talloires Network Innovative Civic Engagement Award, 2020. The award winning project titled “Co-creation strategies for improving the health of children and access to safe water in a time of crisis” is part of the University Award for Innovative Civic Engagement, a program established by the Talloires Network in partnership with Open Society Foundations.

“After a competitive review process, the Selection Committee was impressed by the partnership, and wishes to recognize and support (Mount Kenya University) continued civic engagement work.” said Ms. Lorlene Hoyt, Executive Director, Talloires Network

The University Award for Innovative Civic Engagement aims to discover, learn from, and support the leadership of novel university civic engagement partnerships that connect universities and local communities in ways that contribute to more equal and more inclusive societies.

Mount Kenya University students in a past event jointly organised by MKU and partners for care
Mount Kenya University students in a past event jointly organised by MKU and partners for care

MKU has been awarded in recognition of the involvement of the students, staff and University leaders in implementation of community-based activities in Kenyan communities in partnership with Partners for Care (PFC).

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The university said it would use the funds to expand the initiative including an additional 3,500 pupils infested with jiggers in Watamu, Malindi besides setting up handwashing units countrywide in the war on the coronavirus.

Some of the joint activities considered during the award process include distribution of over 10,000 water backpacks that provide access to safe water transport and storage for hundreds of thousands of people; treatment of over 1000 jigger infested pupils and eradication of jigger infestations in Marsabit leading to improved school performance; and involvement of students and members of staff in community outreach programs.

Anti-jigger campaigns in Marsabit and Watamu, safe water programme using the water backpack as well as the mobility programme. The joint activities are managed through a joint MKU/PFC committee of 5 members, 2 nominated by each institution and a committee chairperson nominated every two years by the head of either institutions on a rotational basis.

Mount Kenya University staff during a jigger eradication campaign held in Marsabit in conjunction with Partners for Care

The committee is currently chaired by Dr. Peter G. Kirira, Ag. Principal College of Graduate Studies & Research.As part of the award, the University will receive $20,000 to support distribution of water backpacks and hand wash units during COVID-19 pandemic in different parts of the country and to reach an additional 3,500 pupils with jigger infestation in Watamu, Kilifi County.

In addition, Talloires Network will sponsor a member of the University faculty to the Talloires Network Leaders Conference at Harvard University in September 2021.Other recipients of the award include Meridian Global University, Cameroon; Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico; National Autonomous University of Nicaragua and the University of Zimbabwe.

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Universities and Colleges Portal

Varsity students drowns while swimming

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A 19-old-Maasai Mara University student drowned in River Narok near Narok GK prison in Narok North sub-county on Saturday afternoon.

Confirming the incident, Narok County Police Commander Mr. John Kizito Mutoro said the first year student identified as Mose Fortunate Masungu, the Literature and Theatre class representative, had gone sight-seeing with his classmates when they decided to swim.

Kizito said the deceased was overcome by strong currents in the river and drowned as efforts to rescue him proved fruitless.

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The body was retrieved today morning and moved to Narok Referral Hospital Mortuary pending postmortem and further investigations into the incident.

In May last year, two students from the same University who had remained behind at the height of the lockdown to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, drowned as they tried to cross the swollen River Narok. Two other Maasai Mara University students also drowned in the same river in 2014 while having a picnic with their colleagues.

Drowning is a serious issue in the country which has no clear data. It’s a calamity that is common especially during the heavy rain seasons in the country as people try to cross swollen or flooded rivers.

In December last year,  A 30-year-old man drowned in River Ewaso Ngiro in  Ewaso Ngiro area in Narok South sub county as he was fixing his water pump to water his crops. Earlier in the same month, a 20-year-old Maasai moran also drowned in a dam in Ole Sere village in Talek area in Narok West sub-county when bathing in the dam.

According to a report from the World Health Organization (WHO); 40 people drown in the world every hour, three of them being young people. Kenya is placed at position 19 among 172 countries of the world with the highest rates of accidental drowning with a rate of 9.85 out of every 100,000 people (about 10 percent).