Mt Kenya University transfers pharmacy students to Nairobi campus

Up to 70 Rwandan students who were pursuing degree courses in pharmacy at Mount Kenya University Kigali campus have been transferred to Nairobi campus following the closure of the pharmacy department at Kigali campus, the University chairman and founder Simon Gicharu said.He was speaking to international students and members of academic staff at Mount Kenya University campus in Nairobi, yesterday.There were about 300 international students in attendance, who were also addressed by Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Kenya Ambassador James Kimonyo, on the role of diplomacy in fostering bilateral relations between Rwanda and Kenya. Amb James Kimonyo plants a tree a sign of commitment the continued mutual cooperation. “I would like to assure the High Commissioner that these students are in safe hands. We decided to bring them here so that they can complete their academic dreams and this will be done at no extra cost. They will pay the same amount of fees they paid in Kigali and the university will cater for their accommodation, meals and other basic needs,” Gicharu said. In March this year, the Higher Education Council, ordered selected private universities in the country to scrap some courses over lack of minimum requirements, following a recommendation of comprehensive audit carried out late last year. Amb. Kimonyo meanwhile commended the role Mount Kenya University in Rwanda’s education sector. Rwandan students in group photo with Amb Kimonyo and members of academic staff. “Rwanda and Kenya continue to enjoy mutual bilateral relations that brought about conducive environment that has led Kenya to become the largest investor in my country with close to half a billion dollars investment portfolio as of this year,” said the envoy.Kimonyo underlined how Mount Kenya University and other institutions of higher learning in the country have been instrumental in supporting Rwandan government achieve it development agenda.“I commend the role of this institution for their role in fostering quality education in Rwanda particularly for making it possible for our students to undertake science related courses”. Amb Kimonyo chats with chairman and founder of Mt. Kenya Dr. Simon Gicharu. “After 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, our government set out knowledge based economy as one of major pillars to achieve our broad economic goals, I thank Mount Kenya University for being part of this journey,” Kimonyo concluded.In his remarks, chairman Gicharu commended the conducive business environment facilitated by the government of Rwanda that allows investors to start and go about their business without any hitches. “I must say that in my academic experience, Rwanda standout to be my best investment destination. We started our operations in Rwanda in 2009 and since then we have grown into a fully-fledged campus located in Kicukiro. This campus is a home to 4627 Rwandan students pursuing degree courses in various disciplines under school of health, school of applied sciences, school of business and economics and school of education,” he said. Students decided to close the event with Kinyarwanda dance. Rwandan students undertaking their degree in pharmacy department show demonstrate their practical skills as Ambassador looks-on. According to Dr. Gicharu, the university has invested over Rwf18 billion in Kigali campus and plans for expansion are underway.Amb Kimonyo commended Mt. Kenya for introducing science courses. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Mt Kenya University transfers pharmacy students to Nairobi campus