A section of the student leaders take oath of office
The 2020/2021 Jomo Kenyatta University Students Association (JKUSA) officials were officially sworn by the University’s Legal Officer on Tuesday March 9, 2020 at the University’s Assembly Hall. The inauguration ceremony punctuated what has been an intensive electioneering period that commenced with the nomination process, campaigns, election of congress and delegates, and the election of the JKUSA Council on February 25, 2020.
In her remarks during the ceremony, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi thanked the students for holding a peaceful and democratic process, and urged the new leaders to now focus on the task at hand.
“I urge you to forge an unbreakable spirit of servant leadership, unity of purpose, always act in the best interest of your fellow students, and the success of the University,” she advised.
She appealed to the student leaders to be stellar brand ambassadors of the University, and assured them of her managements’ total support in the dispensation of their duties.
Somo shakes hands with Prof. Ngumi after being sworn in as JKUSA Chairperson
“Strive to be transparent and accountable in your day-to-day operations as you give your services to the students. Embrace dialogue and seek guidance when need arises. Practice responsible leadership,” she advised.
While addressing the new council led by Abdulahi Somo, University Chaplain, Reverend Father, Prof. Lawrence Njoroge underscored the importance of embracing diversity, urging the students to consider each other as Kenyans and not prejudice on the basis of ethnicity. He appealed to the student leaders to internalize and practice the National Values and Principles of Governance as stipulated in Article 10 of the Kenyan Constitution.
“We have been called to be patriots in this country, and in this University. If you want to lead, we must know ourselves, we must control ourselves, and we must give ourselves completely to the service of others,” he concluded.
In his inaugural address to the students and management, the new JKUSA Chairperson, Mr. Abdulahi Somo, promised to work closely with management and other stakeholders to ensure efficient service delivery to students.
Outgoing Finance Secretary, Ismail Adan, receives a gong of appreciation from Prof. Ngumi.
The Council under his leadership, he further pledged, will extensively network with partners to boost the bursary allocation to needy students.
The Ceremony also served as a farewell tribute to the outgoing JKUSA officials, who were awarded certificates and trophies for their services. Other members of the University management present at the ceremony included the DVC RPE Prof. Mary Abukutsa, Ag. DVC Academic Affairs Prof. Robert Kinyua, Ag. DVC Finance Prof. Jackson Kwanza, and the Dean of Students Rev. Dr James Wakaba, among others.