The Egerton University Alumni Association (EUAA) celebrated the relaunch of its Nakuru Chapter in a colourful ceremony held at Milele Resort on Saturday 26 March 2022. The Chief Guest during the relaunch was Prof. James Tuitoek who is a Commissioner at the National Land Commission. Prof. Tuitoek, who is a former Vice-Chancellor of Egerton University, is a Life Member of EUAA.
In his address to the members, Prof. Tuitoek challenged Egerton University to treat students and staff in a prompt and respectful manner so that they could be resourceful alumni and ambassadors of the University in future. He also called on EUAA to negotiate for broader benefits for alumni to encourage more to join the Association. Such benefits could include tuition waivers for alumni and their dependants as well as negotiated discounts from vendors like supermarkets, hospitals and insurance firms. The Association, he added, needed to outline responsibilities of both life members and ordinary members. There was also a need to come up with a schedule of activities for members of the Association that could include dinners, luncheons, and talks.
The Vice-Chancellor of Egerton University, Prof. Isaac O. Kibwage, was represented at the event by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Prof. Bernard Aduda. While delivering the VC's message, Prof. Aduda noted that the University Management Board would continue to support the activities of EUAA. He called upon Egerton Alumni to support the University, especially in the area of resource mobilisation. Prof. Aduda informed members that the University had set up a Fund Raising Committee to mobilise funds towards growing the University Endowment Fund. The University Endowment Policy, he said, was being reviewed to give stakeholders like alumni a key role to play in managing University Endowment funds. This will introduce safeguards that will ensure that the funds are directed to their intended uses.
The meeting was also addressed by the EUAA Board Chairman, Prof. Isaac Kosgey, who called on Egerton Alumni to be active ambassadors of the their alma mater. Noting that public universities were facing unprecedented financial challenges, Prof. Kosgey called on alumni to support Egerton University to become entrepreneurial so as to bridge the financial gaps.
In his address, the Ag. Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Extension, Prof. Bockline Bebe, invited the Association to hold their future meetings on the Njoro Campus so as to expose alumni to some of the infrastructural challenges the University was facing and propose solutions. Prof. Bebe challenged the Association to consider renovating the iconic Kilimo Hall at the Njoro Campus.
Others who addressed the meeting included the Principal, Nakuru Town Campus, Prof. Joshua Ogendo, the Chair of the Endowment Fundraising Committee, Mr. Kenneth Ayuko, the Director, Marketing and Resource Mobilisation, Prof. Paul Kimurto, and the Alumni Relations Coordinator, Dr. Hillary Chakava.
To crown the day, members of the Chapter elected new officials to lead them, led by the new Chairman, Dr. Kuria Wamukuru among other officials. The Association will hold its Annual General Meeting in November 2022. Younger Egerton alumni are encouraged to present themselves and contest for various leadership roles during the AGM.
