Mount Kenya University Rwanda (MKUR) on Friday, February 10, launched a book that documents its journey in the country and the successes it has recorded.

At the launch of the memoir titled "Mountain Meets Land of a Thousand Hills,” the university management announced plans to open a hospitality training hotel. The hotel, which will be called Kigali Paramount Hotel, is under construction.

The book launch took place as Mount Kenya University marked nearly 13 years since it started operations in Rwanda as one of the higher learning institutions in the country.

The university started with a small campus along KN4 Avenue, formerly Avenue de la paix in Kigali, and then established a science centre in Kicukiro before assembling its academic infrastructure into the ultra-modern MKUR based in Kagarama.

The book also traces the history of the university founder and chairman, Prof. Simon Gicharu. In secondary school, Gicharu befriended a teacher who hailed from Rwanda, and the friendship sowed the seeds of his interest in education in Rwanda.

"The book gives snippets of the journey of Mount Kenya University Rwanda Campus – from its inception to now a very robust and respected institution of higher learning in Rwanda,” MKUR Vice Chancellor Designate, Prof Edwin Odhuno, said.

He stressed that the MKUR is committed to excellence and leadership in university education with help of academic talents from Rwanda, the east African region and beyond, who equip students with essential skills needed to grow the country’s economy, as intended in Vision 2050.

"We have managed to sustain academic quality and currently, our graduates are among the most competitive and most preferred by employers in Rwanda,” he said.

The launch at the MKUR campus in Kagarama, Kicukiro district, was attended by students and alumni, as well as officials from Rwanda and Kenya.

Mountain Meets Land of A Thousand Hills is a 200-page story about two countries coming together for the sake of education.

Prof Gicharu, who attended the book launch, said the launch of the book was "a clarion call for all of us in the African continent to rise up and tell our own stories.”

"Because of education, we Africans now have a system for reading and writing. Why should we still allow foreigners to come and tell our own story? That is the question we asked ourselves in deciding to write this book. We wanted to tell the story of the establishment of Mount Kenya University Rwanda from the Rwandan perspective,” Gicharu said.

He said that it falls in line with two remarkable books about the country: "A Thousand Hills: Rwanda’s Rebirth and the Man Who Dreamed It”, by Stephen Kinzer and "History of Rwanda: From Beginning to end of the Twentieth Century” by the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission of Rwanda.

The book is the first of its kind to be written by a university operating in Rwanda. Prof Gicharu called on other universities to document their history for the sake of future generations.

Senator Prof Ephrem Kanyarukiga, who was the guest of honour during the book launch, said that MKUR’s publication was an initiative that should be emulated by other higher learning institutions.

"The landmark publication is a testament to your journey and achievements as an institution, and it captures the essence not only of the university but also of the Rwandan people,” said Kanyarukiga, who once taught at Mount Kenya University.

"The launch of this memoir is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the individuals who have contributed to the success of this university. Education is one of the core focus areas of Rwanda’s new development blueprint Vision 2030.

"It is encouraging to see the efforts put in place by institutions such as Mount Kenya University-Rwanda towards the achievement of this vision.”

Mount Kenya University students and alumni alike, praised the institution’s contribution to education.

"We are very proud to be students of Mount Kenya University and it’s a great pleasure to witness this book launch,” Robert Rukikira, MKUR Guild President, said.

"MKU serves Rwandans with quality education and supports the community at large.”