Odinga immortalised as Bondo University College gets Charter

President Kibaki signs the Charter
at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
University of Science and
Technology.
Excitement engulfed Bondo town a
couple of days ago when President
Mwai Kibaki granted a Charter to
Bondo University College and
renamed it Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
University of Science and Technology
(JOOUST). It now becomes the 16th
full-fledged public university in
Kenya.
The President who arrived in the
company of Prime Minister, Raila
Odinga and a host of other local
leaders had earlier in the morning
laid a wreath of flowers at the
mausoleum of Oginga Odinga
(Kang’o Ka Jaramogi) before
proceeding to the university to
honour and immortalise the
country’s founding Vice- President.
He was given a rousing welcome by
members of the university
management, local leaders and the
neighbouring community before
signing the charter and visitors’
book. The Head of State viewed a
display of the university’s master
plan, planted a ceremonial tree and
unveiled a plaque to commemorate
the award of the Charter. He also
cut a ribbon and unveiled a
commemorative plaque to officially
open the new Bondo Hostels before
being taken on a guided tour of the
university by the acting Vice-
Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Gaya
Agong’. The President and his
entourage then proceeded to the
main dais in a procession led by the
Kenya Police Band where the main
events of the day kicked off in
earnest.
A series of activities including
entertainment and speeches were
undertaken before the Secretary to
the Commission for University
Education (CUE), Prof David Some
invited the President to read the
Citationand award the Charter and
present Instruments of Authority
(Mace, Logo and Seal) and
Accreditation Report to the
Chairman of JOOUST Council
Chairman, Titus Gateere.
Gateere received the instruments
before installing Prof Jonathan Ole
Karei as the new Chancellor of
JOOUST who then passed on the
above instruments to Prof. Agong’.
Wild cheers and ululations rent the
air when Prof Agong’ carried the
Mace aloft for members of
congregation to see.
Lands Minister, James Orengo and
his Immigration counterpart, Otieno
Kajwang’ who were present during
the event thanked the President for
elevating the institution to a full-
fledged university status adding that
no leader in the history of the
country had ever transformed the
Education sector the way Kibaki had
done. They wished him well in his
retirement. Regional Development
Minister, Fred Gumo challenged
residents of Bondo to work hard in
academics in order to get admission
to the university warning that the
facility won’t admit any student
without the right qualifications.
Higher Education, Science and
Technology Minister, Prof Margaret
Kamar reminded students that being
in the university was an opportunity
of a lifetime and warned them never
to waste or squander it. She noted
that the location of the university
provided a good opportunity to carry
out water research and engage in
agri-business, production of
renewable energy and international
tourism.
The outgoing area MP, Dr Oburu
Odingawho spoke on behalf of the
Odinga family being the eldest, gave
a moving account on how they had
struggled to bring the university to
Bondo. Dr Oburu who is also the
Finance Assistant Minister thanked
Kibaki for elevating the institution to
a full-fledged university and for
immortalising Oginga Odinga. Dr
Oburu described his late father as a
lover of education and a
mathematician of outstanding
repute. Raila narrated to the packed
and attentive audience how his
father used to trek a distance of 30
miles from Maranda to Maseno
carrying a desk to do examinations
in the late 20s and early 30s.
He thanked Kibaki for elevating the
university and naming it after his
father adding that it was the most
befitting honour to the late Jaramogi
Oginga Odinga. Raila called on
universities in the country to
develop products that will aid
industrialisation adding that the
issue of quality and relevance in
training must be addressed.
When he rose to speak, Kibaki gave a
glowing tribute to the late Oginga
Odinga describing him as one of the
most patriotic and gallant heroes in
the country’s history of liberation
struggle and the return to multi-
party politics in 1992.
“I got to know Oginga Odinga when
I was lecturing Economics at
Makerere University in Uganda. He
used to visit us on a number of
occasions to encourage us to come
back home and join the
independence struggle.
Eventually, I agreed, came back to
the country and he appointed me
the Executive Officer of KANU. I am
so indebted to him because he
convinced me to leave my teaching
job and join politics,” recounted
Kibaki. He urged students of the
university to emulate and live by the
ideals that Oginga Odinga stood for
in life.
Kibaki called on members of the
university management to
continuously benchmark with the
best universities all over the world
in matters of science and technology.
He also urged the university to carry
out research on malaria and water
borne diseases that are prevalent in
Nyanza Province. He encouraged
both foreign and local investors to
partner with universities in provision
of quality education.