University students have been urged to shed gender stereotypes that have always held back many female students from pursuing their preferred courses and even suppressed them from taking leadership positions as they pursue their careers.
Mount Kenya University Vice Chancellor Prof Deogratius Jaganyi told students that gender should never be a factor whenever they are making decisions.
“I never look at somebody and consider their gender. You too must judge yourself as a leader and gender must never come into play whatsoever.
"Do not think that you will have to work 10 times as hard because you are a woman, you just need to work hard,” he said.
He was speaking to students at the MKU Parklands Law Campus when the university inaugurated the new leadership for the MKU Students Association (Mkusa).
His words were echoed by Dr Nelly Wamaitha, the director of Parklands Law Campus who encouraged the students as well as the new leaders, some of them female, not to yield to the pressure of the society whose ideals are shaped by a patriarchal system but deliver on their mandate.
“Leadership is hard, unfortunately, it is harder when you are a woman. You will have to convince people everyday that you are not just a girl but a leader. In our society, they will look at a woman twice before they see that she is a leader,” she said.
She also urged candidates who had vied for the elections but lost to continue working with the students' association as well as the management of the university.
“During the campaigns, you had good ideas for this campus. Let us not lose them because you did not win the elections. We hope that you will continue assisting management, giving us ideas so that we can make this institution thrive,” she said.
At the same time, the Vice Chancellor handed to the students at the campus a brand new bus that is expected to support academic field trips and extra-curricular activities.
The move comes as a response to the campus's expanding student population, which has seen a steady rise in numbers over the past few years.
The acquisition of the bus addresses the pressing need for reliable transportation to support various academic and extracurricular activities.
Notably, the bus will play a crucial role in facilitating student participation in prestigious events such as moot court competitions, where the campus has demonstrated remarkable success.
In a recent regional moot court competition held in Rwanda, 40 students from MKU Parklands Law Campus showcased their legal prowess and emerged victorious, further highlighting the campus's commitment to academic excellence.
MKU School of Law has also participated in the Manfred Lachs International Space Law moot court competition held in Pretoria, South Africa.
Moreover, the bus will efficiently enable student clubs like the Red Cross, Wakili wa Watoto, and KMUN to engage in legal clinics, community service and advocacy efforts.
At the handover ceremony, Ms. Judy Ngayu, Associate Dean of Students, commended the University administration for their foresight in prioritising student welfare.
She emphasised the transformative impact the bus would have on student life, allowing for greater access to academic resources and extracurricular opportunities.
Ms Ngayu expressed her gratitude to the university management for their unwavering support and commitment to enhancing the student experience at MKU Parklands Law Campus.
The maiden ride of the bus was flagged off by the Vice-Chancellor officially inaugurating the journey, symbolising a new era of enhanced student welfare and engagement at MKU Parklands Law Campus.
As the campus embarks on the exciting new chapter with its dedicated bus, students and faculty alike anticipate greater opportunities for academic success and community impact.
MKU Parklands Law campus has grown over the years empowering tomorrow’s legal leaders through the provision of affordable, quality legal education.
The School of Law offers Diploma in Law, Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws (LLM) programmes.
MKU Master of Laws programme is offered in Open, Distance & Electronic learning mode allowing flexibility in learning for busy professionals.