The Herbal Society of Kenya (HSK) Kisii Branch graduated its first cohort of graduates on December 18, 2024.
The colourful event, held at Kisii County Cultural Hall, was witnessed by many residents, including the institution’s lecturers, graduates, and their relatives.
Speaking during the event, the President of the Herbal Medicine Society of Kenya (HSK), Dr Lydiah Matoke, congratulated the graduates for enduring their studies despite their adult responsibilities, such as attending to the needs of their families.
“These great people you see here today are adults, with the youngest being 47 years old and the oldest 86 years, but they have successfully attained their Degrees and Diplomas,” she said.
She urged the residents to respect herbal medicine, as it is the origin of modern medicine, which has only been enhanced through scientific research and preservation.
The experienced and widely travelled educator highlighted the institution’s main achievements since it began operating in the region over a decade ago. These achievements included teaching and enabling learners through a series of practical scientific workshops to add value and ensure the safety of processed herbs.
“We made deliberate efforts to work in consultation with stakeholders in the health sector from both the National and County Governments to maintain the authenticity of herbal medicine based on indigenous knowledge, without conflicting with modern curative measures,” she said.
Dr Matoke also praised the Kisii County government for providing support by offering infrastructure for classrooms at the county Cultural Hall and ensuring security that allowed them to work in a conducive environment.
She urged the graduates to enter the world with confidence and treat people while adhering to the country’s health regulations.
The institution’s director, Dr. William Gisesa, explained that it took collective efforts to start the studies in the county, initially using borrowed buildings. He thanked the county government for hosting them.
He encouraged the 50 graduates to use their newly acquired medical skills to build a career in healing that would also provide for their families.
“Your work involves taking care of human lives, so it calls for diligence, endurance, and honesty,” he said.
Retired pastor Harrison Moronya, 86, who was among the graduates, took the opportunity to speak on the importance of education. He emphasized that education has no age limit and continues to open new development avenues for those who strive to succeed in life.
Reading from the book of Psalms 22:29, he described education as the best bridge for connecting the poor to the rich.
The chairman of the organization, James Nyaora, shared the humble beginnings of the organization in the region but thanked the pioneer members for their dedication, which fueled their success.
“We started in a very humble way, but today we are recognized as some of the world’s health champions,” he said.
The chairman appealed to the government to provide land for the organization to plant more indigenous herbs for research and medicine extraction. He noted that land is becoming scarce in the region due to population pressure but expressed optimism that the government would intervene.
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The occasion was also attended by Mwanyagetinge Cultural Heritage Council Chairman George Nyakundi, former Kisii County Director of Cultural Services Nyambane Obino, and Mrs. Grace Nyaera.
Mrs. Nyaera, CEO of the Special Programmes Africa Consortium (SPAC), expressed her happiness to be associated with the institution. She encouraged its leaders to incorporate climate lessons into their curriculum to ensure harmonious relationships between the herbal practitioners and the environment.
She urged the members to be active tree planters since their profession relies on trees for raw materials. She promised her organization’s support to the herbal practitioners by linking them to external workshops focused on environmental care.
By Enock Okong’o.
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