September 28, 2022

Deputy Vice Chancellor, Finance, Planning and Administration, Prof Esther Gicheru, Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor, Co-operative Development, Research and Innovation, and Ag. Deputy Vice-Chancellor,  Academic Affairs, Prof Kennedy Waweru, Registrars present, Deans and Directors present, Professors of the University present, Members of staff present, Student leaders present led by the Student’s President Collins Brandon, New students, Ladies and gentlemen Good morning, Today, I am thoroughly delighted to join my colleagues in welcoming a new cohort of students joining The Co-operative University of Kenya for the next phase of your academic journey.  Allow me to commend you for the choice you made to be here. We appreciate the faith and trust you have in this University and we shall endeavour to deliver as per your expectations and even beyond your expectations. The Co-operative University of Kenya is a Public University and is one of the oldest institutions of learning in Kenya and in the region whose history dates back to 1952. The University acquired its charter as a fully chartered public university on 7th October 2016. In a few weeks’ time, we are going to celebrate our 6th Anniversary as a Chartered University. This University has been mandated with training for the vast Co-operative sector in Kenya which commands over 45% of the Nation’s GDP by engaging in training, research, and innovation that is aimed at creating solutions for the movement and other related fields. This only goes to show you how important this institution is with regard to the growth of our economy and the huge responsibility that is placed on your shoulders to realise the dreams and aspirations of this great nation. Fresh Men and Women, Allow me to congratulate you on the excellent academic performance that has enabled you to be placed at the CUK. We have a team of dedicated and qualified faculty and support staff who will guide you during your stay here and who are keen to give you the best experience during your stay. I wish to assure you that our operations as a University are student-centred and no efforts are spared to enable our students to achieve their dreams and exploit their full potential. This year we are delighted to admit another  2,186 students for the Degree, Diploma and Certificate levels. Our University has continued to grow and we have some new academic programmes where we have students placed for the first time this year. Fresh men and women Our University is a reputable institution in Kenya and the region and as such you will find academic life here demanding; our training and efforts to produce competent graduates remain our key priority. You have come here with one objective; academic pursuit. Your success here is dependent on your hard work, focus and personal effort; You need to remember that you are a student 24/7, 365 days a year. Keep away from trouble and trouble will keep away from you. I know you have been well briefed and counselled about drug and alcohol abuse, and the issues of examination irregularities. You have been taken through the student regulations and guidelines. Kindly ensure that you comply and stay on the right side of the said rules and regulations. As you have been advised by the Dean of Students, HIV/AIDS is real, causing lots of pain to the Nation and families both financially and socially. As you join this University as your academic partner, be careful not to indulge in irresponsible sexual relationships. The country has recently experienced many tragic love-related incidents involving University students and their partners. The sponsor culture has also become entrenched in many local Universities where endowed balding men have come to prey on young ladies and sponsor their expensive lifestyles. Many girls have also gotten unwanted pregnancies. We have also witnessed several unfortunate cases of abortions taking place at the University.  We advise you and especially the girls to be extremely careful in relationships as you usually have the most to lose. Also, live within your means. Incidences of suicide have also tremendously increased in Universities. Kindly seek the audience of the Students’ Counsellor or Dean of Students’ office if you are undergoing any psychological pressure or stress. The challenge of Drug and Substance Abuse in Universities is very real. There are drug peddlers who peddle the drugs around looking for customers who get them hooked on the drugs. The University has very strict regulations on drug and substance abuse and the peddling of drugs. As you are aware, this is a criminal offence under the laws of Kenya and is dealt with very severely. Another vice that is destroying many Kenyan homes including University students is an addiction to sports betting. According to 2016 data Sports betting amassed KSh 56,498,568,760. SportPesa led with revenues of KSh 43,162,779,684. Others are Betin, Lotto, Betway, Elitebet, mCHEZA, BetYetu, JustBet, Betika. Some students have betted all their fees and ended up committing suicide. You are well advised to keep away from these. We would like all of you to graduate the way you reported and to hand you back to your parents and guardians in one piece. I implore all of you to join clubs and societies as part of your extracurricular activities. Participate in a sport of your choice and use your free time to interact with your fellow comrades. I am aware that great efforts have been made by the Dean of Students Office to avail the necessary facilities for your extracurricular activities. Kindly take advantage of these activities as they go a long way in making you an all-rounded student and a better person. Dear students, Information, as they say, is power and such I would advise that you ensure you always keep yourselves updated with University events and activities. Visit our website www.cuk.ac.ke on a regular basis to find out what activities and events the University is having, the MoU’s that we have engaged in and leverage on the opportunities thereof. Follow us and like our pages on our official social media platforms; Twitter: @CoopVarsityKE; Facebook: @CoopVarsityKE and;

Members of UMB Present The Trainers from EACC Colleagues Good Afternoon! I am very delighted to take this opportunity to welcome all of you to this sensitization webinar on the 19th Cycle Corruption Prevention Guidelines which shall be facilitated by a team from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). We are fully aware of the great work the EACC has been doing in ensuring that all public organizations govern and manage their organization in the best way to prevent corruption, economic crimes and unethical conduct in Kenya through law enforcement, prevention, public education, promotion of standards and practices of integrity, ethics and anti-corruption. As a public organization having signed the Performance Contract (PC) we understand the importance of having and running a corruption-free organisation and also see the need to have such a sensitization forum, where we talk about the corruption risks and threats that exist in institutions and the impact at a national, organizational and personal level and for this, we are glad to have all our Heads of Departments join this sensitization. In August 2021 we had an EACC sensitization for the Anti-corruption committee and officers involved in ICT, Finance, Procurement, payroll management and core mandate on implementing measures arising from the corruption risk mitigation plan. As a University, we pride ourselves as an institution that has carefully appointed Heads of Departments who are not only fully aware of their duties and responsibilities but also take full cognisance of the role they play in ensuring that the institution averts all corruption risks and threats. The HoD’S together with their staff fully understand the impact corruption has had on the education sector, from mismanagement of funds,  young people denied the education they should receive, and those unable to afford bribes denied access to education or employment opportunities. And with such knowledge, we have been able to make sure there is transparency in everything happening in and out of the institution. In conclusion,  I wish to remind us that integrity is a shared responsibility and we should each do our part in the fight against corruption. When we all practice transparency, accountability and work according to the codes and conduct as espoused in the Kenyan Constitution, we will all be heavily contributing to the EACC’S mission of promoting integrity and combating corruption through law enforcement, prevention and education and eventually take part in enhancing the integrity of our Kenyan society. Let me now take this opportunity to thank all of you for joining and participating in this sensitization and wish you all a fruitful afternoon. May our God, the Giver of everything Bless you. Thank you