SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. UHURU KENYATTA, C.G.H.

, PRESIDENT AND
COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA
DURING JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGYS
20-YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS, JKUAT JUJA CAMPUS, KIAMBU
COUNTY, 27TH MARCH, 2015

Your Excellency the Ambassador of Japan,

Tatsushi Terada, and the Japanese Delegation,
The Chancellor and the entire University Management of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture
and Technology,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great honour to join you in this ceremony to mark an important milestone in the history of
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

This occasion is important to me as a person as it reminds me of my association with the university

as a council member in the 90s. This was the time the institution had just become a university and
major infrastructure facilities such as the hospital were being developed.

I have since remained passionate about the growth of this university and am therefore delighted
with the progress it has made to date.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The inception of this University and other institutions at tertiary level was in recognition of our
national development aspirations to alleviate poverty and food insecurity through the adoption of
appropriate technology. With emerging challenges precipitated by population growth and dwindling
resources, the Government has continued focusing on the establishment of institutions of higher
learning offering courses relevant to the needs of the nation.

My Government therefore takes great pride in the monumental growth of JKUAT as an institution
specializing in agriculture and technology. I congratulate this university for programme
diversification by introduction of new courses in areas such as maritime and mining technology in
response to the demands of present-day society.

I note with appreciation that the programmes offered by this University enjoy reputation of high
quality and regional relevance.

I also commend the University management for support and mentorship offered to a number of new
colleges and universities. Indeed, it is partly in recognition of this, among other key strengths, that
the Government upheld the universitys bid to host the Pan African University Institute of Basic
Sciences, Technology and Innovation (PAUSTI). I am happy to note the progress made in this Pan
African dream and pledge continued support from my Government.

Let me also acknowledge the support and thematic role of the Government of Japan in the inception
and growth of JKUAT and PAUSTI.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

May I also congratulate JKUAT for its impressive university ranking within the region and the
continent. I wish to acknowledge the elaborate efforts that the University has made with regard to
community outreach and service at various levels.

I hereby specifically point out the University Community Collaboration Development Initiative and
the nationwide in-country training programme for women. This outreach role is complementary to
the devolved government dispensation, which encourages grass-root adoption of technology and
innovation to improve the livelihoods of our people. I call upon county governments to partner with
universities in order to make the devolution of governance a success in our republic.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we are all aware, much of the economic and industrial development in the First World is
attributable to immense research activities and outputs from institutions of higher learning. In this
regard, as we celebrate the remarkable achievements realised in the past 20 years, let us also remain
alive to the reality that there are higher levels to be pursued. I wish JKUAT every success in this
particular endeavour.

Thank you and God bless you.