THEME: Only One Earth; Living Sustainably In Harmony With Nature

BY.ERIC SINDABI

The Library Department is showcasing a collection of books on environmental conservation and climate change at the Reference and Information Services section, Main Library. The aim of this special display is to sensitise the University community on the importance of environmental conservation and the effects of climate change.

The display according to the In-charge Readers’ Services Division Ms Sally Kiplangat, is in line with the ongoing global attention on the effects of climate change and the need for stakeholders to rethink their mandate in putting up sustainable environmental protection measures and policies as well as dealing with the effects of climate change.

“The Library hopes that the special display will inspire a reading culture and research on environmental protection and climate change’’, she said.

Egerton University is a leading environmental conservation and protection stakeholder in Kenya. Through the University’s “Run for the Mau Cross-Country” annual event, it raises funds and awareness towards the conservation of the Mau Complex Forest and the resident Njoro River that cuts through the University vicinity.

On 13^th November 2023 the university hosted a tree planting event in which over 6,000 trees were planted to mark the National Tree Growing Day.

The event was in line with the Universitty’s “Adopt A Forest” initiative to support the 15billion Presidential Tree Planting Campaign. The initiative was launched on May 18^th 2023 by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi accompanied by PS Parliamentary Affairs Aurelia Rono, PS State Department for Basic Education Dr.Richard Kipsang, Nakuru County Deputy Governor Hon. Dr.Davis Kones and Njoro Member of Parliament Charity Kathambi.

BY ERIC SINDABI

Supporting colleagues’ morally, socially and financially is a noble gesture. This was observed during the colourful 20^th Annual General Meeting of the Egerton University Library Staff Welfare Association held on December 8^th 2023 at the CoELIB Conference Hall.

Patron of the welfare, the University Librarian, Mrs  Janegrace Kinyanjui urged the members to consider uplifting the welfare’s objectives to a higher level through ample savings and sincere commitment. She noted that it was important for the members to continue supporting each other because as colleagues, they are like a family.

The patron further encouraged the welfare members to cultivate an avid savings and borrowing culture through the welfare’s savings and credit scheme to uplift the financial sustainability and liquidity status of the welfare. She however cautioned the members against defaulting borrowed money because it was unethical to refuse to repay borrowed money from anyone or public entity.

The Chairperson of the group Mr.George Kira while thanking the patron and members for their continued support for the continuity of the welfare, observed that the activities of the welfare had drastically been affected by the unprecedented financial challenges that gripped members and the University since the year 2020 Covid 19 pandemic devastative effects.

“This peculiarity devastated members and interfered with their financial obligations including contributing to their savings scheme and loans repayments to the welfare’’ said the Chairperson adding that the welfare management discussed with  the affected  members on a personal level where some pledged to differ  their savings contributions and loan repayments.

Thirty members out of the current fifty two graced the occasion while the occasion was also used to host a send-off party to four members who recently retired from the University. Egerton University Staff Welfare Association was mooted in the year 2003 as a social welfare group. Its objectives include offering moral and social support to members while engaging in small scale savings, credit and investment activities.

Members come together to support sick or bereaved members morally and financially and also support and encouragement to members holding social functions like graduation, marriage, ‘house-warming’ and other individual ceremonies. The welfare conducts its financial operations through a savings account at the Egerton University Savings and Credit Cooperation.