Keziah Pendo Mutuku a third year Bachelor of Science Human Resource Management student at JKUAT is the new president of the JKUAT Human Resource Students’ Association. She succeeds Eunice Wanjiru, following the Association’s elections that saw the new office bearers assume office unopposed after the expression of interest and application process that took place between March 12 – 24, 2026.
JKHRSA handing over and swearing in ceremony was held on 23rd April, 2026 to coincide with the association’s first anniversary, where the President, Kezia Pendo and the Vice President, Maurice Nyaga Njeru and other officials were sworn in by JKHRSA Founder, Mr. Asher Abonyo.
Speaking at the ceremony, the pioneer and outgoing JKHRSA President, Ms. Eunice Wanjiru, appreciated the inaugural JKHRSA leaders she had worked with. Ms. Wanjiru left an open letter to her successor, encouraging her to take a keen interest in the Association, and work towards elevating it and learn from challenges and exercise consultative leadership.
The new president promised to provide present leadership to the Association by working alongside the students during her tenure. She said her leadership would focus on mentorship and exposure for JKHRSA members.
She acknowledged that leadership will not always be easy, but promised that she would lead her team to rise to the challenge and deliver for the members.
“I will provide consistent leadership that will prioritize enhancing student experience and growing the Association,” Ms. Keziah said.
Paying special tribute to the JKHRSA first anniversary since it founding, Dr. Rebecca Maina, a Lecturer in the Department of Business Administration who also serves as the JKHRSA Patron noted the impact the Association is already making, and highlighted the impressive performance record of the JKUAT Human Resource (HR) students who have won the Rising HR Stars Award for two consecutive years.
She stated that JKHRSA was bridging the gap between class theory and industrial needs by organizing platforms for members to interact with professionals and other aspects of human resource, and community social responsibility initiatives, such as including workshops, symposiums, networking summit platforms and a visit to Happy Life Children Home located in Juja Farm.
“Through our networking platforms and pre- industrial attachment training programs, we have been able to boost attachment opportunities for our members, for example in one networking summit we secured 25 attachment positions,” Dr Maina stated.
Mr. Patrick Kigathi representing the Dean of Students, Prof. Fredah Wanzala spoke on the importance of students joining clubs and associations, and urged them to keep engaging within the in clubs and associations to enrich their campus life and gain practical professional skills.
JKHRSA founder, Mr. Asher Abonyo thanked the outgoing leadership for carrying on his legacy. He urged the incoming leadership to quickly transition from the excitement of election to handling the demands of office. He urged all in attendance to break away from comfort zones and take initiative, drawing from his experience in founding JKHRSA. He thanked Dr Maina for mentoring him and supporting him during his quest to found the association.
Gracing the event was a former SOBE student representative Eliffet Ouma, who shared his inspiring journey to student leadership during his time at JKUAT. He emphasized the need for building strategic and intentional relationships in career building.
Mr. Ouma, a champion of mental health, underscored the importance of university clubs, having himself earned around 37 certificates from JKUAT clubs. He thanked Dr. Maina, Mr. Kigathi and other SOBE staff for mentoring him.
Dr. Mary Kamara, an experienced HR practitioner with 20 years and Lecturer at JKUAT Nairobi Campus and the author of: Human Resource Management – A Kenyan Perspective. urged HR students to pursue certification by human resource bodies to boost their chances in the job market. She indicated possible future networking sessions between her post-graduate students and JKHRSA undergraduate students.
The function culminated in a cake cutting ceremony to commemorate JKHRSA anniversary and leadership transition.
