Egerton University Faculty of Engineering and Technology Staff welfare AGM

On the 23rd October 2015, I hosted the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Staff welfare AGM held at Cool Rivers Hotel in Nakuru. The event started at 2pm.

Members of the welfare attended the function with optimism as this was an event where staff members can interact and socialize.

The meeting started with the Chairman taking the members through an introduction session.

Resolutions were passed in the meeting, with members discussing in detail the activities of the previous year.

 

Members of the welfare who had retired gave inspiring messages to the audience and at times making the audience laugh at their tested experiences.

At the end of the meeting, a new team of executives was elected to lead the welfare and a colourful handover ceremony followed.

 

Ultimately, the meeting ended at 6:30pm with members requesting for more of such activities that would create a deeper interaction between members, through team building and trips.

The welfare patron Dr. D.N Kamau who is also the Dean of the Faculty was present at the AGM. The new chair of the welfare is Dr. Musa Njue, from Agricultural Engineering department. He takes over from Mr. Konosi who has lead the welfare for the last three years.

 (Luke Toroitich)

 

Engineering Welfare AGM

Today, Im hosting the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Annual General Meeting at Cool Rivers Hotel, Nakuru.
The Faculty of Engineering and Technology is one of the Faculties at Egerton University.

In attendance is the Patron, Dr. D.N Kamau who is also the Dean of the Faculty.
The main agenda of the day is to pass resolutions for the years coming ahead. Additionally, retirees and experienced staff will make their speeches, a chance to learn from their experiences.

I will later do a comprehensive post detailing the event.

GENDER AWARENESS DAY CELEBRATION AT EGERTON UNVERSITY

The 15^th Gender Awareness Day was held at Egerton University, Main campus on 17^th October 2015. The gender awareness day is an annual event that is used to highlight gender issues that affect both men and women. The event is sponsored by the Institute of Women, Gender and Development Studies (IWGDS), which is based at Njoro Campus. The theme for the event was “The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: Challenges that affect the Implementation and the Empowerment of Women”

The event creates a forum to reach out to the community, development partners, schools, students and all other stakeholders to gain more knowledge in gender equality. During the celebrations, Kilimo Primary school students presented a song in Chinese language, to the pleasure of the crowd. The children who presented at the event were learning Chinese language, taught by Zhang Xia, who is a Chinese language Professor at Confucius Institute of Egerton University.

The speakers invited at the event referred to the Beijing declaration that was established 1995, which was 20 years ago. The keynote speech was delivered by Justice David Ndung’u who emphasized on the importance of such a function to ensure that human rights are granted to all people no matter their gender.

Amongst dignitaries at the event were Prof Rose Mwonya, DVC (AA), Dr. Damaris Parsitau, Director (IWGDS), Dr. Josephine Kulea, Board Members of the Institute and leaders from Nakuru County Government. The climax of the event was the launching of two programmes; Youth and Transformational Leadership Development Programme that was launched by Dr. Josephine Kulea. The second programme was Women and Transformational Leadership Programme launched by the Chief Guest Justice David Ndung’u.

Present at the event were pioneer women who form the Global Women Leadership Network (GWLN). The members encouraged the audience to fight for their rights, forge forwards towards achieving their dreams. Dr. Parsitau appreciated the involvement of the women in every aspect in society, however, she challenged more women to take up leadership roles in society without fearing for their families or marriages

Prof Rose Mwonya, DVC (AA) inspired the audience by informing them that even after the several campaigns for gender equality, there was still a gender disparity in the clergy and in the justice system in Kenya. She encouraged more ladies to join these professions as they were currently male dominated.

At the venue of the event, students and companies had showcased their products, programmes that were in line with the theme of the day. From Egerton University students to the members of the community visited the tents, learning what the community is doing to spread the word of gender equality to all visitors.

-          (Luke Toroitich)

Gender Awareness Day

Egerton University celebrated the 15th Gender Awareness Day at Main campus, Njoro on 17th October 2015. It was a a successful event, with plenty of guests and fun filled entertainment. The Chief Guest was Justice Anthony Ndung'u. Amongst other guests were Dr. Josphine Kulea, County directors from the Ministries in Nakuru County.

The event started with the Chief Guest planting a tree at the Institute of Women, Gender and Development Studies within the campus.

Egerton University students displayed their talent through poems, songs and skits. Egerton University choir also presented a classic song from Congo.

Kilimo Primary students also presented a song in Chinese and a poem to the attentive audience.

When it came to the song by Friends of Lake Nakuru, the whole crowd stood to dance, mingling freely on the open grass.

The guests invited spoke with emphasis on the development of systems to promote both the boys and girls to advance.

The crowning moment of the event was the launch of two programmes tailored for the youth and the women, to build their capacity, equipping them in leadership and entrepreneurship.

These programmes were Youth and Transformational Leadership Development Programme, designed for the youth. For the women, the Women and Transformational Leadership Programme. 

Top University management attended the event; Prof R Mwonya, DVC (AA), Deans and Directors and members of staff

TIPS:

·         The engagement of community in your public functions ensures that the event is successful. In the Gender Awareness Day at Egerton had visitors from as far as Canada and Rusinga.

·         Always strike a balance between the times allocated for entertainment and speeches. At this point, it is up to the wisdom of the Master of Ceremony, to read the mood of the crowd, when to cut off the entertainment, to provide more time for other items

Here are some photos from the Gender Awareness Day at Egerton University.

 

Give me your feedback by placing a comment here or contact me on rottokluke@yahoo.com. ltoroitich@gmail.com 0720358070

Update on The Gender Awareness Day



Come join us as we celebrate the 15th Edition of Gender Awareness Day, to be celebrated at Egerton University. I will be hosting the event, MC Toro.

There will be plenty of entertainment, lots of inspiring speeches from invited guests. Come all, lets celebrate

Here is the advert placed in the Daily Nation on 10th October 2015.

Busy October:

October is here and I already have a packed schedule. As I had hinted earlier, I have an event for 17th October; Gender Awareness Day.

Additionally on 24th December, my younger sister Dorcas will be having visitors at our home in Nakuru, and the whole family will be here to support her. On 31st October, I will be travelling to Nairobi to attend a friends wedding at Utalii, pretty much making all my weekends packed.

So far, I have started planning for the 17th October event, major lobbying done with stakeholders from the community to ensure their attendance. This is very crucial. What I have noticed for public institutions, if you place any activity to be done on the weekend, very few if at all any staff members will turn up for the event. What you get are students or passer byes who happened to be passing through your venue and could have been attracted by the music or performances on stage, then they may pose to watch, but that is all. Once the speeches start, the audience walks away, soon you are addressing empty chairs.

An idea comes to mind, may be I should do this one day: I take a picture of the audience when there are performances on stage and then another photo of the crowd when the speeches are read out. That would be tangible evidence of this phenomenon

I will posting about this "phenomenon" soon in my following events.

Tips  :

• Whenever you plan for a weekend event at a public institution e.g. University  then invite as many as possible external stakeholders since they may be curious enough to attend your function. Staff members of that public institution are mainly taking time off the weekend with their families, so they may not attend your function. Please take this seriously. I have been to an event where a diplomat gave a speech to an empty field....PLEASE...save yourself from this embarrassment
• Planning is key: If you still insist on the weekend, incorporate lots of LIVE band music, engage the visitors by free samplings: caps, t shirts
• Have a good sound system: Many people laze around their houses over the weekend. The sweet sound of music from your event can draw in these idle crowd. TRY it....IT WORKS

So, let me prepare for the 17th Oct, lets see what is the outcome. Watch out for more updates.

Please give me your comments

Thank you

Luke Toroitich

Professional Master of Ceremonies