SPEECH DELIVERED BY H.E.

WILLIAM RUTO, EGH, DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA DURING THE 1 st GRADUATION CEREMONY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KABIANGA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 201
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On behalf of the Government, I congratulate the University Council, Management, Staff, University community, parents, guardians, sponsors and friends during this inaugural graduation ceremony of the University of Kabianga.

My heartfelt congratulations to today s graduands! your diligence and steadfastness in pursuing your studies have handed you double recognition. "irst, as university graduates conferred #ith the po#er to read and do all that appertains to it. $hen secondly, as the maiden cohort of graduates of the University of Kabianga since it attained the status of a fully%fledged university.

&our hard #or' and sacrifice have secured you a special place in the upcoming history of this institution. In return, you o#e the University of Kabianga a duty to ma'e it proud both as alumni and ambassadors of such a #orthy institution.

Of course, playing the all%important support roles in your (ourney to this momentous ceremony have been your lecturers, parents, guardians and sponsors. $o you I say the re#ard for your tremendous contribution lies in the fortunes these graduands #ill reap from your mentorship, encouragement and prayers.

L#+*"s #$+ G"$t&"/"$

$he government has, thus far, initiated the process of decentrali)ing and increasing access to education in all parts of the country. $his is in line #ith e*uitable development

of all counties as stipulated in the Universities +ct ,-.,. $his county is therefore, luc'y to host a university. I urge all eligible Kenyans to enrol at the University of Kabianga and ac*uire s'ills that can improve their personal #elfare and that of the county.

/very so often #e in national leadership remind Kenyans of the country s ne# development blueprint, the 0ision ,-1-.

I have no doubt in my mind that ma(ority of Kenyans no# 'no# that this vision aspires to transform Kenya into a ne#ly industriali)ing 2middle%income country providing a high *uality life for all its citi)ens by the year ,-1-3.

4hat I cannot, ho#ever, vouch for is #hether the minds domiciled in our universities5 and that means the crme de la crme of our gross national intellectual capital5are loo'ing a little beyond the mantras of this 0ision.

Over and above 0ision ,-1- s #ish list is a call to urgent and concerted action by the academia. $his call demands that our universities consciously impart a set of s'ills, 'no#ledge and sensibilities that are consonant #ith Kenya s desired future as envisaged in the 0ision. $his too calls for focused research #hose natural home is the university. Clearly, your role, both as a university and as degree holders is #ell cut out.

L#+*"s #$+ G"$t&"/"$,

"or far too long, higher education in +frica, intentionally or other#ise has predominantly and consistently produced #ould%be, #annabe or hardcore elitists. In my vie#, the a#e and reverence associated #ith holding a degree in the .67-s, 8-s, 9-s and :-s seems to have influenced ho# #e value degrees in modern times.

$o begin #ith, earning a degree does and should not pigeonhole the graduate into narro# intellectual confines. Instead, a degree should #iden one s scope of imagination, create a pragmatic synthesis bet#een theory and practice, and ultimately, 'noc' off barriers that hinder transcendent human aspiration, progress and the ever%elusive triumph over the pitfalls of unchallenged conventions.

I therefore challenge our universities to be in the forefront in the *uest to rid our future graduates of the follo#ing t#o rather prevalent syndromes especially in our part of the #orld!

One, # /*s1&#%"+ s"$s" ') "$t*t&"/"$t #here graduates feel the society o#es them instead of them o#ing the society. $oday s graduands should, therefore, as' themselves ho# the 'no#ledge and s'ills they have ac*uired in the course of their studies can transform Kenya for the better. "oremost in their minds should be. &ou should invest your ideas and ingenuity through #hich, for instance, Kenya can emerge less une*ual, greener, cleaner and happier nation.

$#o, -(#+,#t"s #(" $'t /"("&2 /#st"(s 5,t, /'(" */1'(t#$t&2, &"#+"(s *$ t!"*( *//"+*#t" )*"&+s ') "8%"&&"$%". $he ideal leader s prime duty is to sho# the #ay. $herefore, graduates must al#ays aspire to sho# the #ay and not to lord it over others. +nd that, indeed, is the surest #ay of putting a tag of honour to any superior educational *ualifications.

$o our education planners, I urge that #e, as much as possible, avoid the 'ind of pedagogy and learning environments that may lead to the mis%education of the schooled or one #hich #ould demand the de%schooling of the educated. In a #ord, #e must re% calibrate and re%prioritise our philosophy of education in order to produce balanced and #ell%ad(usted graduates #hose academic *ualifications are social assets not liabilities.

L#+*"s #$+ G"$t&"/"$,

$he Government is a#are of the challenges public universities are facing particularly due to the increasing demand for university education. ;espite limited resources, the Government #ill continue to ma'e efforts to support the e<pansion of higher learning. $his university is part of that plan.

In the meantime, I congratulate the University Council and Management for the prudent utili)ation of the resources available in steering the institution to its current status. $he Government #ill continue to provide the necessary support to enable the University to fulfill its ob(ectives. =o#ever, I challenge the University to engage in resource

mobili)ation and #ealth creation to supplement the Government s financial support. +fter all, #ithin your ran's you have a large reservoir of brains and human capital that if properly systemati)ed can offer solutions to unlimited sectors and industries.

I am also a#are that this institution is constrained in terms of facilities, mainly infrastructural. $o address this, I encourage the university to engage in >ublic >rivate >artnership in order to supplement Government efforts in developing such infrastructure as students hostels. $o local entrepreneurs, I encourage you to ta'e advantage of the presence of the university in the locality to invest in catering and accommodation facilities for staff and students.

Specifically, the University of Kabianga being located as it is in Kericho, I #ould encourage institutions and industries situated in this area to see' strategic as #ell as profitable partnerships #ith this university. It is note#orthy that engagement in research and development bet#een universities and industries is al#ays beneficial t#o%#ay. In this county, there is a lot that can be done in the realms of agribusiness and technology besides value addition to agricultural produce.

A$+ $'9 s1"%*)*%#&&2 t' t'+#2.s G(#+,#t"s,

Strive to be graceful holders, not inelegant #ielders of degrees. Gracefulness means tempered, measured and appealing #hile inelegant means a#'#ard, unga inly and coarse. ?emember the po#er to read that you have been granted today gives you the license to

domesticate your career options in an informed manner aside from earning you a tic'et to the league of those in the 'no# globally. Go forth then and be the best you can and #ere meant to be. +nd in all your endeavours, remember to ma'e the University of Kabianga, your lecturers, parents and guardians proud. +bove all, ma'e Kenya proud.

Once again, ladies and gentlemen, I commend the University Council, Management and Staff for #or'ing tirelessly to ensure the University of Kabianga is off to a good start.

$han' you and God bless you all.