Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology electorate has today, Wednesday 28^th July, 2021, elected trustee representatives to the MMUST Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme. The newly elected trustees, who will be representing the academic and Grades I-IV staff, are Dr. Isaac K’owino Odhiambo and Ms. Dorah Khaluyi Mbakaya respectively.

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) researchers have taken the lead in using knowledge to transform communities. Jointly with the Busia County Ministry of Sports, Culture and Social Services, they have rolled out an anti-jigger campaign in Teso South Sub-County. One of the most impactful activities of the campaign was orchestrated on Monday 26^th July 2021 in Kaujakito, Amukura.

The campaign was flagged off by the Busia County CS Sports, Culture and Social Services, Dr. Janet Manyasi, and implemented by Dr. Dennis M.W. Ochieno and Mr. Philip Amuyunzu who are MMUST researchers affiliated to the Centre for African Medicinal and Nutritional Flora and Fauna (CAMNFF). The team made several stopovers in the Sub-County where many members of the communities in dire need of the services attended the function.

Speaking during the campaign, Dr. Manyasi applauded the University Management led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Solomon Shibairo for allowing such a great initiative to take place in Busia County. She said that jiggers have become a menace that torments many people, especially school going children in Busia County. She further said as a government, they are ready to support any mission towards eradication of the jigger menace. She reiterated the need for the two institutions to upscale this important activity as provided by the MoU through a structured and sustainable approach.

“Tungiasis caused by jigger fleas is a neglected disease that directly affects the productivity of Kenyan citizens in Busia County and many other parts of this Country. As a County we need healthy people to work and help in achieving economic growth in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. I am therefore grateful to the MMUST management for this gesture and humbly request that this be a continuous exercise so that we can completely eradicate the jigger threat among our people”, she said.

Mr. Amuyunzu, the Anti-Jigger Champion within the Lake Region Economic Block (LAREB), who is also the President of the Biophysical Society (Kenya), on the other hand exuded confidence that it is easy to eradicate the jigger menace from Busia County. He noted that jigger infestation is a disease like any other, but it has been neglected in many formal medical systems. “Jiggers lower people’s self-esteem, making them run away from the public due to deep-rooted stigma in many African communities”, he said. He called upon members of the community, MMUST and the County Government of Busia to jointly address the issue in order to eliminate the embarrassing disease. He further assured members of the community in Busia that MMUST will continue carrying out research to come up with indigenous remedies that can easily kill jiggers without affecting members of the community.

Busia County Government was also represented by the Chief Officer in the Department of Sports, Culture and Social Services, Mr. Joe Maurice Odundo, the Director Department of Sports, Mr. Peter Ogulla and the Kaujakito area Chief, Mr. George Okemer. Other members in the MMUST team present included the MMUST-CAMNFF affiliated Medical Microbiologist Mr. Peter Nyongesa and the research assistants Elizabeth Mwende, Feyseyne Isiye, Victoria Naluyange, Amos Wanekeya and Simon Barasa Owana. 

by Wilberforce Shiundu

The MMUST Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme, on Monday July 26, 2021, for the first time ever, held a debate for academic staff trustee representatives- Dr. K’owino Isaac Odhiambo of the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, and Ms. Sharon Kosgey of the Department of Clinical Nursing and Health Informatics. The aim of the debate was to provide voters with an opportunity to interrogate the candidates, to get a comprehensive view of them, their policies as well as their outlook on various issues before the elections scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday July 28, 2021.

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology’s annual Tamasha Cultural Festival 2021-Phase1, kicked off on a high note with a culturally diverse and decorated official opening ceremony at the University’s graduation square on Wednesday 21st July 2021.This year’s Tamasha Festivals, whose theme is ‘Leveraging Our Cultural Diversity and Resilience in COVID-19 Era’, is a celebration and appreciation of Cultural diversity, National and International Cohesion.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Career Mentorship: Scholars discuss the importance of mentorship for young aspiring students   

The Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology Rugby Team, popularly known as ‘Makaka’, beat Impala Saracens 21 – 12 over the weekend to clinch their second Kenya Cup win.

A team of researchers from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology led by the Principal Investigator, Prof. Peter Bukhala recently embarked on sensitizing the Community and health volunteers in Kakamega County on the importance of physical activities for mental wellbeing during the pandemic. The participants were drawn from various Sub-Counties in Kakamega, including Butere, Ikolomani, Khwisero, Lurambi, Malava, Matungu, Mumias East and Navakholo. The training workshop which was held at Bukhungu Stadium on Friday, 9^th July, 2021, was founded on a study that the team had carried out in March 2021 titled ‘Home-based Physical Activities Model for Improving Mental Well-being of Kakamega County Residents during COVID-19 Pandemic.’