CTW09MAR

Contents

Kiai opens BHM 2

U.S. Ambassador closes BHM 2

USIU eyes Gates partnership 3

Find USIU on-line 3

USIU hosts Management Workshop 3

Pressman tours journalism facilities 3

Namibian educationists visit campus 3

Dr. PLO Lumumba on campus 4

Club hosts Paraplegic Association 4

USIU remembers students 4

JCI reach out to abandoned kids 4

Diplomat speaks to IR students 5

Harvard prof drops in 5

HR director speaks to students 5

New student government elected 6

SAC WEEK on Campus 6

USIU student wins KTN show 6

Tourism students host conference 7

Star speakers at Amka Dada forum 7

SIFE holds enterprise conference 7

Career journalists share insights 8

Regional Peers review IST Program 8

Students form industry partnerships 8

Faculty win research grants 8

New staff & faculty 9

Norah is top employee 9

IR students at Harvard University 10

Drama club heads to Meru 10

KCB bring along career advisors 10

Current class schedule supported 10

This SemesterCampus

Spring‘09

SPRING EDITION 2009VOLUME 4 EDITION 1

United States International University

Campus This Semester gives you a round-up of activities undertaken this semester and is published by the Public Relations Department. Available on the internet at www.usiu.ac.ke/mag. Forward information and feedback to [email protected] or Ext. 562/237

Kiai opens BHM celebrationsABOVE: Mr. Maina Kiai, former Chair of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, speaks to students soon after opening the Black History Month celebration of Tuesday February 3 in the auditorium. Mr. Maina spoke on “Celebrating Black Leadership in Africa and the Diaspora”.

Speakers galore at BHM celebrations

Black History Poetry SlamLEFT: USIU students recite prose at the Black History Month Poetry Slam on Thursday at the cafeteria’s terrace.

Constitutional lawyer and Senior Counsel, Mr. Pheroze Nowrejee spoke to students during the Inter-University Panel on Wednesday February 4 in the auditorium.

Top US diplomat closes with a clarion call

ABOVE: Students and staff pose with the U.S. Ambassador, H.E. Michael E. Ranneberger (center), at the conclusion of Black History Month celebrations, this year. To his immediate right is Head of PR Ms. Angelina Mwashumbe and on the extreme right (back row) is Prof. Mathew Buyu, DVC - Academic Affairs.

His Excellency Ambassador Michael E. Ranneberger was the keynote speaker at the closing ceremony of the Black History Month celebrations 2009. During his speech, Ambassador Ranneburger urged students to shun violence, while participating actively in the political and economic destiny of Kenya. Drawing lessons from U.S. President Barack Obama’s successful campaign for the U.S. presidency, he noted the voting power held by young people, as well as the determination necessary to bring about lasting change.ABOVE: Ugandan artist Mr. Wamala Nuwa-Nyanzi, speaks to

students about his contribution to art in the library’s bookshop where some of his artwork was displayed.

Rachel Jones, a media consultant with the Nation

Media Group, shared her experiences on growing

up in the then segregated United States.

Kalekye Mumo (Class of 2000), a well known presenter with Kiss100 FM radio, spoke to students about her post-campus experiences.

Songstress Cecilia Wairimu also known as Amani (Class of 2003), was on campus to share her experiences with students too. Amani is most recently the winner of two 2008 Channel O Music Video Awards.

Dr. Kang’ethe Iraki, Associate Professor of Languages spoke at the Black History celebrations.

Ms. Juliett Achieng (Class of 2006), a media advisor with the UN, also shared her post

- college experience.

Left : United Press International (UPI) Editor-in-Chief Mr. Michael J. Marshall (second right), together with the Dean - School of Arts & Sciences Prof. James Kahindi (second left) and Journalism Programme Co-ordinator Mr. Isaiah Cherutich (right), accompanied the VC Prof. Freida Brown (left) on a tour of the remodeled Lilian K . Beam ICT Center.

Below: Mr. Marshall (center) and Mr. Cherutich (left) visited the broadcasting studio at the Student Center.

UPI is a global news agency founded in 1907 with offices on four continents. Its stories are distributed to thousands of news outlets, on-line sites, academic institutions and policy-making bodies.

Find USIU on-lineUSIU’s web site now features an integrated Google Map (left)displaying the directions to and from our campus. This will provide our on-line users with an interactive, user friendly and efficient web mapping application from Google. Visitors can now use the USIU web site to get directions to our campus.

USIU eyes Gates partnership

Also present was the University Librarian, Dr. Sophia Kaane (second left) )and the Head of Public Relations Ms. Angelina Mwashumbe (third right). Also present was Faculty Chair, Dr. Frederick Iraki (left).

Namibian educationists visit campusSome members of the Namibian National Council for Higher Education paid a courtesy call on the DVC Academic Affairs, Prof. Mathew Buyu (right) on Wednesday March 18, at his office.

USIU hosts Management WorkshopProf. Freida Brown (second left) receives a sponsorship cheque of Kshs 350, 000 from the Group CEO of Fina Bank Mr. Rob Farlow, at the conclusion of the first Management Workshop held at the School of Business from 14-16 January. The workshop’s theme was “Managing a Growing Company” and was organized by USIU’s Center for Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Development (CEED).

VC Prof. Freida Brown (second left) receives from Rob Warlow Group CEO of Fina Bank (left), a cheque for Kshs 350 000 towards the hosting of the first management workshop. Looking on from right are Dr. George K’Aol (Acting Dean, School of Business), Prof. (Columbia Business School), Mr. Charles Mayaka (CEED Director) and Prof. Joseph Kimura (immediate former Dean, School of Business).

From left: Angelina Mwashumbe (Head of PR) , Dr. George K’Aol (School of Business Dean), Mercy Karanja (Senior Program Officer, Global Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), Khalid Bomba (Senior Program Officer, Agricultural Development Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), Ms. Joan Wairimu (Lecturer), Mr. Joseph Kimote (Institutional Planning Director), Prof. Mathew Buyu (DVC - Academic Affairs) and Ms. Fostina Mani (Head of Fundraising). USIU and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are looking at establishing an Agricultural Leadership Institute at USIU, to provide management and leadership training for the Foundation’s partners.

Pressman tours journalism facilities

Dr. PLO Lumumba speaks on leadership skills

Dr. Patrick Lumumba (front centre )a well-known advocate and orator, delivered a guest lecture on Leadership on March 26 in the auditorium as part of activities to mark the Counseling Centre’s Drug Awareness Week.

From fourth right: Angelina Mwashumbe (Head of PR); Dr. Francis Wambalaba ( Academic Research Director ); Shazma Mukri (Counseling Assistant); Lucy Kungu (Head of Counseling).

Dr. Lumumba elaborated upon the key requirements of any leader , addressing himself specifically to what he called the leadership crisis in Africa. He exhorted young people to make a clean break from the bad examples set by inept and short-sighted African leaders, adding that there’s still hope for our country.

Prof. James Kahindi flanked by members of USIU’s Junior Chambers International (JCI ) donates mosquito nets to Rosemary Kamau, Director of Happy Life Children’s Home on Friday March 27, at the home.

USIU’s JCI Club raised Kshs 10,000 for the children’s home located in Roysambu, Nairobi as part of their community service initiative, last fall. The home, which caters for abandoned babies - some as young as three months - currently has thirty-four residents.

JCI reach out to abandoned kids

Club hosts Paraplegic AssociationUSIU’s Thinkaholics Club hosted the Kenya Paraplegic Organisation (KPO)’s Board of Directors for the Psychology Awareness Week on March 11.KPO’s CEO Mr. Tim Wanyonyi, who also a Nairobi City Councillor and advocate, delivered the keynote speech, sharing his experiences in living with disability.The event was also attended by the patron, Mr. Joseph Njoroge, and Psychology Coordinator, Dr. Josephine Arasa.Right: Members of KPO’s board of directors together with Mr. Joseph Njoroge, a Psychology lecturer and club patron .

Rest in peaceUSIU remembered students, staff and alumni who have lost their lives recently, at a memorial dubbed “Celebration of Life” on February 5 in the auditorium.Below: Mohammed Varvany remembers the late Sur Sen (Mr. USIU 2004), who died in a road crash in Lagos, Nigeria on December 26, 2008.

ABOVE Foreground: I Choose Life AFRICA Director Mike Mutungi and Head of Counseling Lucy Kungu together with students sing Kathy Troccoli’s ‘Go Light Your World’ during the graduation ceremony for peer educators in the auditorium on March 27. The ceremony also marked the end of the Drug Awareness Week hosted by the Counseling Center and funded by ICL Africa, USAID and other partners.

RIGHT: Cecelia, Mike and Lucy with some of the graduates of the ICL-trained Peer Educators.

Dorcas Muthoni, General Manager of OPENWORLD Systems - dealers in Human Resource Information Systems - and a recognised expert in her field, made a presentation on Human Resource Management Information Systems on February 4.The EMOD Strategic Mangement graduate class led by Management lecturer, Mrs. Teresia Linge (Inset), was familiarising itself with integration of technology in Human Resource Management.

Guest speaks on HR systems

Harvard prof speaks on African public policesMatt Andrews, Assistant Professor of Public Policy at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and consultant with the World Bank spoke at International Political Economy class taught by Amb. Dr. Philip Mwanzia, Associate Professor of International Relations. Dr. Andrews, dwelt on his recent work, for the World Bank, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Dr. Mbithe Anzaya, Assistant Professor of Management (right) organized a team-building outing for her BUS6030 (Leadership and Management of Change) graduate class on Sunday March 8 at Maasai Lodge. Mentors Afrique’s George Pita (left) took the team through practical lessons focusing on how to handle change in an organizational context.

Recruiters meet studentsMr. Joshua Ndungu, a manager with PwC Kenya, addresses students during his company’s recruitment exercise at the library on February 19. Right:Mr. Fred Aloo, a partner with Deloitte explains HR practices at his firm to assembled students on Tuesday March 10.

Israeli Ambassador speaks to IR students Being his first visit, the Ambassador (centre) is taken round the campus by the Dean School of Arts and Sciences, Prof. James Kahindi (extreme left) and IR Senior, Patrick Kamau (front right) who organised the event, in conjunction with IR Co-ordinator, Moses Onyango (back centre). INSET: Amb. Dr. David Kikaya, moderated the question and answer session.

His Excellency Mr. Jacob Keidar, the Israeli Ambassador to Kenya gave a speech on “Israeli-Kenya relations and what Kenya can learn about food security from Israel.”He also spoke about the Israeli experiences in utilisation of alternative energy sources.

HR director speaks to studentsMr. Paul Kasimu, the Kenya Airways Group Human Resources Director, spoke to students of the BUS6030 (Leadership and Management of Change) class on Tuesday, February 3.Mr. Kasimu, a director of the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM) and National Vice Chair of the IHRM Council, spoke on strategy development and implementation, succession planning, executive selection, talent development, performance development, employee relations, change management, project management, job profiling and evaluation, reward management, and business partnering.Mr. Kasimu’s visit was organised by Dr. Mbithe Anzaya.

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Students clearly had a good time reliving their high school days (above and left).

SAC WEEK on CampuswChairman1. : Moses WanjiruViCe - Chair2. : Aliza NazirSeCretary3. : Fatma FernandeztreaSurer4. : Catherine ChegeViCe SeCretary5. : Chelimo KeterSChool of artS repreSentatiVe6. : Bianca WaiganjoSChool of BuSineSS repreSentatiVe7. : Shadrack Mahindrawelfare one8. : Nderaisho Kubowelfare two9. : Daisy MuthoniGraduate repreSentatiVe10. : Varvany Mohammed

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New student government elected

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Cameras roll on campusCameras rolled and characters played out their lines as Tottenham Ltd, a local production company shot a television soap opera on campus. Two USIU students, Steve (left) and Irene (inset) were right at home as members of the cast clearly enjoying themselves.

Graduates relax in NaivashaABOVE: Masters students were clearly enjoying themselves at the Fish Eagle’s Inn in Naivasha last December. The trip, organised by the Student Affairs Council’s Graduate Representative Faith Mwende (second row -left), was well-attended.

Students were campaigning for their preferred candidates in one of the tightest SAC electoral races in years.

1, 845 USIU students exercised their democratic right when they elected ten new officials to the Student Affairs Council Senate 2009.The new officials (above & right), have a year to implement what promises to be a packed agenda, beginning with the new student orientation on May 4 next semester.

Record numbers of students voted electronically in the just-concluded SAC elections.

Presenting...the winner!Edith Kimani(right), is the winner of Kenya Television Network (KTN)’s newest reality show, The Presenter. During the sixteen weeks of gruelling competition, Edith was exposed and introduced to TV production, presentation and editorial concepts by KTN editors, anchors and reporters, together with seventeen other contestants at the KTN Television

Academy. A weekly elimination ceremony, whittled down the number to three finalists. The grand finale aired live from the Grand Laico Hotel, on the evening of Sunday March 15, where voters picked Ms. Kimani, an International Relations major, over two other finalists. Congratulations to Edith on her new position!

ABOVE: USIU’s women’s advocacy group Amka Dada, held a public forum on March 20 at the Library book shop, which was well attended by alumni, staff and students. BELOW : Guest speakers spoke on “Today’s Woman Exploiting her Full Potential”, sharing their experiences as career women. BELOW: Left: Wahu Kagwe, 2008 MTV Africa Best Female Artist award winner; Middle: Muthoni Ndonga (left), Rachel Gichinga (right) and Right: Mary Onyango, Executive Director of the Kenya Breast Health Programme. INSET: Rosemary Ngure, Amka Dada patron and University Counsel.

Ms. Rebecca Nabutola , Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, addresses Hotel and Restaurant majors during the CHATS club conference held on March 20 at the auditorium.

Local tour operator, Mr. Donald Manyala (foreground), USIU alumnus and current graduate student shared his experiences with students at the conference.

Mr. Michael Waweru, Senior Warden with the Kenya Wildlife Service, also spoke on the role of youth in marketing domestic tourism.

Ms. Nabutola spoke on public sector involvement in the tourism industry, challenging her audience to promote domestic tourism, adding that the government actively supported local entrepreneurs in domestic tourism.

Star speakers at Amka Dada forum

SIFE holds youth enterprise conference USIU’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE USIU) hosted their annual entrepreneurship conference dubbed “Young Capital Big Money” where they launched Kazi.Net, an on-line job-hunting project.The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Hassan Bashir, an alumnus and adjunct lecturer at the School of Business and director of telecommunications firm, Soliton Telmec.

A SIFE member speaks to assembled Muindi Mbingu High School students about post-secondary opportunities during the SIFE visit to the school on Saturday 28 February. Looking on are fellow team members.

A screenshot of the kazi.net homepage. Launched on March 5, Kazi.net is expected to augment USIU’s Career Office in availing job opportunities to USIU students.

SIFE members tour club projectsOn the 28th of February Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) reviewed some of its field projects in Ukambani. This trip was conducted in two aspects. First, SIFE USIU engaged the students in thinking about their careers while still in school. They provided the students with success skills for their study and exam preparations as well as an insight into the many opportunities available to them after school.The team also visited the Angalia Mbele Women’s Group, part of SIFE’s Women In Free Enterprise (WIFE) Project in Machakos, which taps seasonal river waters and stocks it in reservoirs for irrigation purposes. The women’s group continues to benefit from ICT skills and business training taught by the SIFE team.SIFE USIU team was led by its Faculty co-advisor, Fostina Mani, SIFE KENYA Assistant Program Manager, Mr. John Awuor and the Club President James Rakuom.

BELOW: SIFE Members celebrate winning the Drug Awareness Week Strategy competition. Their strategy, Sober Thursday, seeks to draw students to counseling sessions at Counseling Center.

Ms. Sonali Shah from the Toast Masters Club gave a brief rundown on essential public speaking skills needed by the modern entrepreneur.Participants, more that half of whom were from other local universities were trained on making presentations and writing business plans.

Tourism students host conference

discussions on the firm was produced by the students, which, once edited, will be placed in the library for reference. Dr. Peter Lewa also had his EMOD 6020: Strategic Management in Profit and Non-profit organisations Spring 2009 class hold their last sitting at the Kula Korner Restaurant in Hurlingham, Nairobi. There, the management team led by Mr. Dominic Korsen, discussed the strategies to apply during current turbulent times in business and specifically in the hospitality/tourism industry. The discussion revolved around strategic thinking in today's turbulent business environment and assisted students link theory with industry practice.

Students form industry partnerships

Faculty win research grantsDr. Francis Wambalaba, Philip Machoka and Akosa Wambalaba have been awarded a research grant of $15,000 by the Institute for Money, Technology & Financial Inclusion (IMTFI) at the University of California, Irvine. Their research proposal is titled, “E-money for Enhancing MDG’s at Bottom of the Pyramid. A Case Study for M-Banking in Kenya”.

Professor Macharia Munene presented a paper entitled, “History of Western Sahara and Spanish Colonisation,” during the Conference on Multilateralism and International Law with Western Sahara as a Case

Study, sponsored by Government of South Africa’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the University of Pretoria, in Pretoria, South Africa on December 4-5, 2008.

Prof. Munene presents at Pretoria conference

From left: Philip Machoka (Lecturer of Information Systems & Technology), Akosa Wambalaba (Lecturer of French) and Francis Wambalaba (Academic Research Director)

Renowned journalists offered guidance to Journalism Seniors about to enter the media industry.Beatrice Marshall (Associate Editor/ News Anchor, KTN) Mr. Katua Nzile (Managing Editor, KTN) and Mr. Isaiah Cherutich (Journalism Co-ordinator) were at the School of Arts on a career counselling and talent search mission, courtesy of the Journalism program. Not Pictured: Mr. Kizito Namulanda (Deputy Managing Editor - KTN).

Career journalists share insights with students

Regional Peers review IST Program

LEFT: Students of Information Systems and Technology meet the review team (background) from the Inter University Council of Eastern Africa (IUCEA) at the School of Business on February 18. INSET: Dr. Josephine Arasa, Coordinator of Quality Assurance at USIU.

The Inter- University Council of Eastern Africa (IUCEA) sent a faculty team to USIU to assess the quality of our Information Systems and Technology programs from 22-24 February. The team, comprising Prof. V. Baryamureeba-(Makerere University), Dr. Waweru Mwangi (JKUAT), Dr Alfred Mwambela (University of Dar es Salaam), Mr. Fulgence Matimbo (Tanzania Commission for Universities) and Prof. Thomas Ottmann (University of Freiburg,

Germany), met with IT faculty and students in order to get a picture of what the program is offering and delivering.The review is part of a drive by the regional academic body to align quality standards for East African universities with best practices from other parts of the world.USIU’s now has its own Quality Assurance Coordinator, Dr. Josephine Arasa, who also heads the Psychology program.

Faculty member presents at educational conferenceMr. Joseph Njoroge presented at the Education Internationalization Conference at York St. John University in the United Kingdom, from 23rd to 27th March. He represented the four universities trained under Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PCAP) namely, Egerton, Moi, Kabarak and USIU. His paper was on “Distance Covered”.

Dr. Kenneth Omeje (right), Lecturer African Peace & Conflict Studies, has also been awarded a research grant of $18,810 by the same institution. He is conducting empirical research on the role of oracular deities as traditional sources of credit. The proposal, titled “Borrowing from the gods: Oracular Deities as Traditional Sources of Credit among the Igbo of Nigeria”, will use the experiences

The graduate BUS6150 students led by Dr. Peter Lewa, Associate Professor of

Management, were engaged practically in the development of a strategic plan for Muthoga Gaturu and Company Advocates, one of the largest and most famous indigenous law firms in Kenya. The students carried out an organizational audit, conducted SWOT analysis and held discussions with senior management to give their recommendations on what should be included in the firm’s strategic plan. A CD containing

of three ethnic Igbo communities to enhance the understanding of the history, operation, the opportunities and externalities of the very relatively unknown fetish divinity credit institutions in Africa.

Employee of the SemesterNorah Kiereri, an Admissions Counselor in the Division of Student Affairs emerged top employee in the Summer of 2008. Congratulations!

HEaD Of HUMaN RESOURcESPIUS KAKUMU is the new Head of Human Resources. Mr. Kakumu rises from the position of Training & Development Coordinator in the Human Resources Department, Finance and Administration Division.REcORDS aSSISTaNTRUTH KIGUTA has been promoted to the position of Records assistant. Ms. Kiguta was previously Records Clerk in the Registrar’s Department of the Student Affairs Division.PURcHaSING OffIcERMr. Patrick Kiriri has been promoted to the position of Purchasing Officer.Mr. Kiriri was previously Stores Clerk in the Finance and Administration Division.

The new Staff Council Chairman Dan Muchai, receives instruments of office from the immediate former chair, Norah Kiereri at the hand-over ceremony on February 20.

Members of the immediate former Staff Council and Student Affairs Council welcome the VC Prof. Freida Brown back to the university after a two-month medical leave.

Brian Ogalle, immediate former Staff Council Parliamentarian, embraces Corporate Planning & Development Director Joseph Kimote at the Staff Council hand-over ceremony on February 20.

Left: Members of USIU’s Volleyball team admire the Blue Triangle Trophy they won on March 15, by beating Machakos Technical Institute 4 sets to 1, in a thrilling final. So far the team has bagged nine trophies for the current season, making them arguably the most successful sports team in USIU history. Pictured on the right are members Front row (left): Peter Mutua and Michael Macharia. Back row (left) : Wilson Okee, Julius Kyuli, Nicholas Musembi, Joseph Kyalo, Eustace Nyaga and Paul Maku.

New Staff & FacultyKeith HumaNetwork Administrator

Alex KinyanjuiNetwork Administrator

Fostina ManiHead of Fundraising/Grant Writer

Evans KicwenNurse

Promotions

John RiunguRecords Clerk

Ryan SilaRecords Assistant

Prof.Masai MunyaeProfessor of Sociology & Criminal Justice

Dr. Kenneth OmejeLecturer, African Peace & Conflict Studies

Dr.Jennifer HartwellAssociate Professor of Management

Dr. Margaret MunyaeAsst. Professor of Sociology & Criminal Justice

Vice Chancellor Prof. Freida Brown.

The VC is back!

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WHICH SCHEDULE DO YOU PREFER * TYPE OF RESPONDENT

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Do you prefer the current or proposed

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Left: USIU Students at various venues during the four-day conference.

IR students at Harvard University

Current class schedule finds support

International Relations students were invited by the Harvard International Relations Council, to participate in the 55th Session of the Harvard Model United Nations from February 12 - 15, at the Boston Park Plaza and to establish an Academic and Student Affairs links with the Harvard International Relations Council. The USIU Delegation represented the Republic of Somalia in six United Nations General Assembly (GA) Committees, One Regional Committee (AU) and a special Historical General Assembly (HGA) Committee.

ABOVE: A chart showing preferences by students and faculty for both current and proposed class schedules for Fall 2009.

The University has anticipated class disruptions during the planned expansion of Thika Road to a superhighway, tentatively set for September 2009. Consequently, the class survey was meant to find out how faculty and undergraduate students would respond to measures aimed at minimising the disruption.Sixty-four percent of students preffered two sessions of ninety minutes each, while seventy-one percent of faculty supported a single session of 180 minutes. The report is currently before the Management Council.

Drama club heads to MeruMichezo Afrika prepare for the Kenya National Drama Festival finals to be held at Meru School and Kaaga Girls High School in Meru from March 20 - April 8, 2009. The drama club will present two plays, a narrative and a solo verse by Maureen Njeri. Last year, the club bagged a record nine trophies at the same event.

Residents at the USIU hostels, this semester participated in a slew of activities. Right: Students sit down to a meal at Kibo Camp, Amboseli National Park on March 6.

Below: The new block team were winners of the Inter-Block Competition on March 15.

Below right: Resident pick up archery skills at the Kitengela Adventure Resort on January 25.

Left: Georgina Sande, Ernest Wakhusama and (below) Mohammed Ayub in the play “ Gold”.

Residents have some fun!

KCB brings along career advisorsGeorge Lutta (above centre) speaks to students soon after taking part in the KCB University Circuit event on campus on January 22 in the auditorium. Mr. Lutta, a director at ScanGroup group of companies, shared his career experiences with students as part of KCB’s drive to have successful managers coach students in Kenyan universities, touching especially on the local job market.