The School of Pharmacy at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) officially ushered in its newest cohort of Bachelor of Pharmacy students during the 2025 White Coat Ceremony held on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at the Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre in Juja.
The annual event, which includes the donning of white coats and the taking of a professional oath, marks a significant milestone in the academic journey of first-year students signifying their formal induction into the pharmacy profession and their commitment to upholding its ethical standards.
Organized by the JKUAT Pharmacy Students Association (JPSA), the ceremony brought together faculty members, alumni, and industry professionals who offered guidance and inspiration as the new students embark on their five-year journey toward becoming competent and compassionate pharmacists.
In her keynote address, Dr. Mercy Julie Wanjiru, the Chief Guest, drew from her personal experiences to encourage the students to pursue their academic goals with balance and passion. She acknowledged that while pharmacy is a demanding program, students should still make time for extracurricular activities that nurture their personal growth and broaden their perspectives.
“These passions help you identify gaps in emerging specialized areas such as sports pharmacy or digital health, which represent some of the new frontiers in the profession. Also, remember to network, because meaningful connections like the ones I built with fellow alumni can lead to mentorship, collaborations, and exciting career opportunities that classroom learning alone cannot provide,” said Dr. Wanjiru.
The students also had an opportunity to interact with Dr. Alex Kigundu, the Dean of the School of Pharmacy, and invited alumni who shared experiences on professional growth, discipline, and navigating the evolving pharmaceutical field.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Alex Kigundu urged the students to approach the pharmacy profession with dedication and a genuine willingness to understand its core principles. He emphasized that building expertise in the field requires mastering drug dispensing, providing proper patient counselling particularly because many patients often visit a pharmacy before going to a hospital and collaborating effectively with other healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, and laboratory technologists as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
The students, some of whom are already budding entrepreneurs, also gained valuable insights on financial discipline and investment from Dr. Jack Kileba, who represented the Kenya Medical Association (KMA) SACCO.
Dr. Kileba underscored the importance of consistent saving and prudent investment, noting that these habits not only help students grow their ventures but also provide a financial cushion as they transition from university life to the professional world whether during internships or when beginning new jobs.
The ceremony concluded with a colourful cake-cutting session, a cherished African tradition symbolizing unity, celebration, and connection within the community.
