Prof. Philliph Mutisya, of Raleigh, NC, USA, a founder of Diaspora University located in Taita Tevata County, toured Kenyatta University. During his tour, he met Dr. Harun Mbuvi of the Chemistry department, who studied in Iowa, U.S.; Prof. Rebecca Karanja of Environmental Sciences; Racheal Mwale of the Chemistry department, who is from Taita Taveta; and other scholars. He discussed partnerships and the role of universities in advancing research and development.
Prof. Mutisya was happy to visit Kenyatta University, where the late Prof. Raphael Njoroge, one of the founding professors of the University, was. Prof. Njoroge later migrated to the United States and became a faculty member at WPI University in Worcester, MA. He liked the WPI project-based learning approach and initiated the idea of founding a university in Kenya that would apply it. Today, Diaspora University is being established to use this approach.
During his visit to Kenyatta University, Prof. Mutisya learned that the University is established on 1,000 acres of land. Diaspora University Town (DUT) is a 1,500-acre university town development plan that includes 3,778 properties and a 60-kilometer road and infrastructure network. The properties and infrastructure will support a 5,000-student university and establish a town of 25,000 residents.
Prof. Mutisya was pleased that the Kenyatta University professors were impressed by the Diaspora University's founding and wanted to be part of the project as founders, investors, and contributors to the courses to be taught. Dr. Rebecca Karanja, a National Environment Management Agency (NEMA) expert who conducted the Diaspora University Town - Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), is contributing to environmental courses.
While Kenyatta University has grown to a population of 30,000 students, the enrollment of students to study at Kenyan universities remains low compared to developed countries. In the U.S., where Prof. Mutisya has taught for over 35 years, approximately 40% of children who become adults attend university. Kenya has yet to reach the 15% mark. This shows the need to grow the university intake.
Prof. Mutisya, who is currently preparing the requirements needed by the Commission for University Education (CUE), also discussed these requirements with the Kenyatta University professors, who provided him with advice and support.
The number of professors, scholars, and PhD holders founding Diaspora University continues to increase. Prof. Mutisya's goal is to have a list of 50 scholars contribute to the founding by providing courses and other professional services.
