More than 60 papers across eight sub-thematic areas were presented as Kaimosi Friends University (KAFU) marked another significant milestone during its second annual national conference, which concluded on May 14, 2024.
The two-day virtual conference, graced by distinguished guests including the Director General of NACOSTI Prof Walter Oyawa and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Research Fund Prof Dickson Andala, represented by Prof Elliud Musostsi, witnessed an active participation of over 100 scholars from 29 different universities.
The versatile Big Blue Button platform hosted the conference, featuring a blended launch attended by the KAFU management board and faculty at the university’s Old Library. Notably, the conference saw a diverse range of topics discussed, spanning climate change to artificial intelligence, science, technology, and economic revitalization, among others.
The launch of the conference was officiated by the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Development Prof Maurice Amadalo on behalf of the Ag. Vice Chancellor Prof Peter Mwita. Also present was the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic and Student Affairs Prof Julius Kipkemboi.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor AF&D revealed that 65 papers from a wide variety of disciplines were presented. Moreover, the conference attracted 8 professors, over 35 PhD holders, and several postgraduate students who were being mentored as co-authors. In total, over 100 scholars participated online.
The Director General of NACOSTI underscored the need for expensive research that can improve local community livelihoods by exploiting the natural resources in the environment. He further emphasized the role of the government in promoting Science, technology and innovation through high level and action-oriented research led by experts in our universities.
The NRF CEO was happy to join the launch of the second National Virtual Conference. He noted that it was “a pragmatic demonstration of the commitment of the university management and staff to the promotion of high level research. Indeed, the arduous process of gathering data, analyzing it and disseminating findings should be the sacrosanct preoccupation of every scholar.”
He further noted that the multitude of resources for knowledge creation, such as scholarly forums and conferences, enable participants to digest it and get divergent perspectives from other scholars from diverse backgrounds.
The keynote speakers were Prof Jones Agwata from Machakos University, who spoke candidly and insightfully on climate change. He outlined the legal framework, policies, laws and regulations, action plans, research and technology needs, strategies for managing climate change in Kenya, and opportunities for research and innovation.
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On the second day of the conference, Prof Daniel Orwenjo from the Technical University of Kenya discussed the discourse of terror threat based on an online corpus from a linguistic perspective, which elicited a lively debate.
It emerged that KAFU promotes multidisciplinary scholarship and research, which is evident in the range of programmes offered, hence the rich mix of sub-themes selected for the second conference.
Scholars at the university always endeavour to promote research, innovation and outreach through regular seminars, workshops and conferences.
It is through these academic platforms that the university creates knowledge, nurtures it, disseminates and publishes for posterity and for national development. It is for this reason that the mission of the university resonates well with the theme of this year’s conference: “Redefining Innovative Knowledge and Skills for Rapid Development in the Digital Era.”
The diverse content and dynamic approaches of the well-researched and peer reviewed papers that were presented for the two days may provide the necessary scholarly impetus to take KAFU to the next level in the field of academic dissemination.
It was expected that the expert deliberations at the conference should culminate in practical solutions to the persistent and recurrent social, economic, educational, environmental and political challenges that plague not only Kenya but also the rest of the African continent and world at large. These phenomena require urgent and ardent intervention as committed intellectuals.
The representative of the Vice Chancellor thanked the KAFU Council, management, Senate and the entire KAFU fraternity, sponsors, partners and regulators for making this year’s event a pleasant reality. He reported that the subsequent conference would be international, given the right commitment and resources.
Participants were grateful to the university and the conference organizing committee for putting together a great scholarly forum for dissemination and they looked forward to more similar scholarly intellectually stimulating experiences.
KAFU seeks collaboration with Lokus Energy for innovative waste-to-energy project in income generation bid
KAFU is actively considering a promising venture with UK-based Lokus Energy, focussing on a collaborative waste-to-energy project. The university is set to appoint members, including its legal counsel, into the planning committee as part of its commitment to the potentially income-generating initiative.
This public-private partnership (PPP) project, nearing the final stages of documentation, hinges on KAFU’s provision of 70 acres of land. This land allocation is pivotal for the establishment of diverse components essential for the 95 million USD project’s infrastructure.
Encompassing the industrial-scale plant, a landfill, a technical garage, a training institute, and a buffer zone, this zero emission biofuel technology facility aims to process 400 metric tonnes of assorted waste and biomass from Vihiga and Nandi counties, yielding an array of energy products, including biodiesel, hydrogen, syngas, and solid by-products.
A team of the project facilitators on Thursday 9th May, 2024 met the Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Peter Mwita, alongside Senior Research Fellow Dr John Ayisi; the Director of Research, Innovation and Outreach, and acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academics and Student Affairs Prof Benson Ojwang’.
In the team was also the VC’s personal assistant Dr Nurwin Fozia, who also serves as the Director of Quality Assurance and Management System.
They converged for talks on moving the project forward.
The facilitators were led by Dr Geoffrey Abung’ana, who was accompanied by Dr Evans Kiganda and Dr Billy Nyonje (who is also the chairperson of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Vihiga Chapter).
The VC said the university would study the land agreement in consultation with the Ministry of Education (MoE) and would also appoint its legal counsel to the committee planning for the project to help move things forward.
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The 95 million USD project involves Lokus Energy and its local facilitators on one side, and the county governments of Vihiga and Nandi, KAFU and CPF Financial Services as the special purpose vehicle implementing it.
Dr Abung’ana said much of the approvals had been secured and that the documents were under review.
With reducing government capitation, KAFU is keen on incoming-generating investments to propel its growth ambitions. The project is also expected to boost KAFU’s quest to establish a centre of excellence in climate change action in collaboration with the County Government of Vihiga.
It is also touted to create at least 1200 jobs at full capacity, with 400 of these permanent and pensionable, pushing the neighbouring community into a university and industrial tow.
Collaboration for environmental conservation: Vihiga-based GAWRUA seeks partnership with KAFU
The Garagoli Water Resource Users Association (GAWRUA), based in Vihiga, is actively seeking a partnership with KAFU to enhance environmental conservation efforts within the Kaimosi complex sub-catchment.
GAWRUA, a 150-member association registered with the Water Resource Management Authority (WARMA), on Friday, April 26, 2024, met with the acting Vice Chancellor Prof Peter Mwita and the acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academics and Student Affairs Prof Julius Kipkemboi.
During this meeting, GAWRUA expressed their desire to collaborate with the university.
GAWRUA’s primary objective is to maintain the ecological health of the 30-kilometre long Garagoli River. Their multifaceted efforts include pollution prevention, safeguarding the catchment area and wetlands, forest conservation, riparian land management, community sensitization, tree planting, and engagement in commercial activities such as apiculture, dairy feed production, and landscaping.
KAFU is deeply committed to environmental sustainability. As part of the government’s landscape restoration initiative, the university aims to plant at least 130,000 trees this year alone. The broader goal is to contribute to the planting of 15 billion trees by 2063, with the aim of reducing greenhouse emissions, combating deforestation, and restoring 5.1 million hectares of degraded land.
Prof Mwita, the Acting Vice Chancellor, lauded GAWRUA’s call for collaboration, emphasizing that the university is dedicated to ensuring the successful growth of all planted trees. He expressed eagerness to tap into GAWRUA’s expertise.
Prof Kipkemboi highlighted the long-term benefits of tree-planting, including carbon credits for future generations. He underscored that environmental degradation and climate change are evident in the increased runoff within the catchment region.
The meeting concluded with the decision that GAWRUA will initiate a formal agreement outlining the partnership’s objectives.
In alignment with its commitment to environmental stewardship, KAFU is advancing plans to establish a Centre of Excellence in Climate Change Action. This initiative, in partnership with the University Fund and the County Government of Vihiga, will culminate in a three-day conference featuring various speakers.
The conference will focus on reforestation efforts on the Maragoli Hills.
By Tindi Kuchio
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