UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA NEWSLETTER
6 APRIL - 13 APRIL 2017
Workshop explores EU-Africa-China cooperation
Participants in the Jean Monnet Network's First International Workshop on ‘The European Union, Africa and China in the Global Age – Sustainable Development through Tripartite Cooperation and Regional Integration: The Case of the East African Community (EU-EAC)’, pose for a group photo outside the Freida Brown Student Center on Wednesday, April 11. The workshop was addressed by Chargé d’affaires, Delegation of the European Union to Kenya Mr. Bruno Pozzi (center) and DVC-Academic & Student Affairs Amb. Prof Ruthie Rono (center left). Also in attendance was Associate DVC-Academic Affairs Prof. Francis Wambalaba (front row right) and Associate Professor and Director of International Relations Programs Dr. Fatuma Ali (front row, second left). Mr. Moses Onyango, Director of the Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (front row left) organized and hosted the Workshop.
Prof. Macharia Munene (Professor of History and International Relations) speaks on “The East African Community (EAC): Historical Perspective, Impact and Challenges’ during the Workshop’s morning session. Prof. Jean-Marc Trouille (Jean Monnet Chair in European Economic Integration at Bradford University School of Management) gives his opening remarks during the Consultative Panel Presentations in the Jean Monnet Network's First International Workshop on ‘The European Union, Africa and China in the Global Age – Sustainable Development through Tripartite Cooperation and Regional Integration: The Case of the East African Community (EU-EAC)’, on Wednesday, April 11. The session was also addressed by Amb. Prof. Ruthie Rono (DVC- Academic and Student Affairs), who represented Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Zeleza, and Mr. Bruno Pozzi (Charge d'affaires, Delegation of the European Union to Kenya). The Workshop was hosted by the Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IPPIA) whose Director Mr. Moses Onyango is also the Jean Monnet Network East Africa Community Coordinator. Photos: Dan Muchai
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA NEWSLETTER
6 APRIL - 13 APRIL 2017
Famine relief campaign raises KES 1,533,333
Photo: Dan Muchai Partners in the #ImCompassionate Campaign pose for a group photo following the presentation of a cheque for KES 1.533 million to the Kenya Red Cross Society on Wednesday, April 12. From left: Mr. James Ogolla (University Advancement Director) Ms. Esther Odongo (Regional Customer Service Manager, SKF Kenya Ltd), Mr. Stanislas de Dinechin (MD, Jumia Travel), Amb. Prof. Ruthie Rono (DVC - Academic & Student Affairs), Mr. Ajay Manji (Ag. Secretary-General, Kenya Red Cross Society), Prof. Peter Lewa (Professor of Management), Ms. Lillian Gaitho (Head of PR and Communications – Jumia Travel), Ms. Rita Gichema (Business Research Methods - BUS6220D - Class Representative) and Dr. Juliana Namada (Assistant Professor of Strategic Management).
The #IamCompassionate campaign to raise funds to alleviate the famine crisis in Northern Kenya concluded on April 8, with a presentation of a cheque for KES 1, 583 333 to the Acting Secretary General Kenya Red Cross Society Mr. Ayaz Manji
during a ceremony
outside the Administration building. The event marked the end of a three-week fundraising period where 12 classes, 485 individual donors and three corporate organizations contributed towards the crisis in the north, that has put at least 2.7 million Kenyans at risk of starvation. Speaking on receiving the donation, Mr. Manji also observed how encouraging it is to see young people become concerned about the plight of drought victims. He reiterated his organization’s commitment to ensuring the funds reach those who are most vulnerable in line with existing efforts by the society. Photo: Dan Muchai
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Members of the USIU-Africa Chapter of the Kenya Red Cross Society, hand over donated dry goods to representatives of Kenya Red Cross, on Wednesday, April 12, following the conclusion of the #ImCompassionate campaign, that sought to raise funds towards famine relief efforts in Kenya. The campaign raised KES 1.533 million from the USIU-Africa community and partners, over a three-week period.
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA NEWSLETTER
6 APRIL - 13 APRIL 2017
#IamCompassionate began four weeks ago when Prof.
contributions from class members, their networks and
Jumia Group – Africa’s leading online retailer, donated
Peter Lewa (Professor of Management) approached
partners. The contribution included the amount raised at
a total of KES 130 000, including a cheque for KES 100
his Contributors to Strategic Management Class with an
class-organized Solidary Run on Saturday, April 1, where
000 presented to Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Zeleza and
challenge to raise funds to aid in famine relief afflicting
Prof. Lewa contributed KES 2000 for every student who
the USIU-Africa Management Board on Monday,
parts of Kenya. He also approached the Fundraising office
beat him in a one-hundred meter dash at the athletics
March 27. A further KES 30 000 from the company was
for support in expanding the effort to include the rest of
track.
contributed through Jumia’s participation in the April 1 Solidary Run.
the university community. Dr. Juliana Namada’s Business Research Methods Class The Red Cross Club then linked the university with the
(BUS6220) also raised KES 117000, while the School of
Other corporate participants included SKF Kenya,
Kenya Red Cross Society, and assisted with mobilization
Pharmacy and Health Sciences through the efforts of Dr.
which through the efforts of its Chief Executive Mr.
efforts at class and school level, such as the
Betty Mbatia marshalled faculty, staff and students to
Harris Kariuki (IBA ’97) presented a cheque of KES 200
#Imcompassionate Concert on April 6, the Donate-A-Meal
raise KES 55 300. Other classes that also participated in
000 to Amb. Prof. Ruthie Rono (DVC-Academic &
drive on Thursday, March 23, as well as manning the two
this effort included Dr. Stephen Nyambegera’s Overview
Student Affairs), and Radio Africa’s East FM’s KES 50
campus collection points, throughout the duration of the
of Management Practices Class (KES 30, 600), Dr.
000, which was part of the BUS6150A class donation.
campaign.
Kipkoech Ngeno’s Research Methods in IR (KES 22, 420), Dr. Michael Kirubi’s International Business Operations
Prof. Lewa’s Contributors to Strategic Management Class
(KES 17,450) and Dr. Timothy Oketch’s International
(BUS6150A) raised a record KES 326, 646 through
Economic and Trade (KES 14, 950).
Photo: Diana Meso Ms Lillian Gaitho (Head of PR & Communication, Jumia Travel) and Ms. Hellen Guthu (Head of Sales - Jumia Food) present a cheque of KES 100000 to Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Zeleza on Monday, 27 March 2017 at the VC’s Boardroom. Looking on is from left: James Ogolla (University Advancement Director), Hellen P. Ambasa (Legal Services Director/Company Secretary), Eannes Ongus (Principal Fundraising Officer),Prof. Paul Zeleza, Jared Raburu (Administration Director), Lillian Gaitho, Hellen Guthu, Amb. Prof. Ruthie Rono (DVC- Academic & Student Affairs), Ms. Edith Guchu (Ag. Finance Director) and Dr. Paul Okanda (ICT Director).
Photo: Dan Muchai Amb. Prof. Ruthie Rono (USIU-Africa DVC-ASA) presents a cheque of KES 1.532 million to Mr. Ayaz Manji (Ag. Secretary General – Kenya Red Cross Society) raised from contributions by USIU-Africa staff, faculty, students and partners, on Wednesday, April 12.Looking on is Jumia Travel MD Mr. Stanislas de Dinechin (left) and Ms. Esther Odongo (Regional Customer Service Manager, SKF Kenya Ltd).
Photo: Diana Meso The Spring 2017 MBA Strategic Management class (BUS6150A) taught by Prof. Peter Lewa (Professor of Management) raised a record KES 336, 231 (US$ 3233) in the #imcompassionate campaign to raise funds to purchase famine relief food.
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UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA NEWSLETTER
6 APRIL - 13 APRIL 2017
Photo: Diana Meso Members of the IRL3003B Research Methods in International Relations class pose for a group photo with members of the USIU-Africa chapter of the Kenya Red Cross Society, following a donation of KES 22 420 towards the #ImCompassionate Campaign, on Friday, March 31. The class is taught by adjunct faculty Dr. Kipkoech Ngeno.
Photo: Dan Muchai Mr. James Ogolla (University Advancement Director) receives a cheque for KES 55300 from Dr. Betty Mbatia (Assistant Professor of Biochemistry & Biotechnology), Ms. Ruth Mwai (Principal Academic Advisor), Denjamin Mutui (Pharmacy freshman) and Arnold Gitau (Pharmacy Sophomore) on Thursday, April 6 during a presentation in the Science Center.
Photo: Diana Meso Members of the Class of Overview of Management Practice present a cheque of KES 30 600 to Ms. Christine Kamala (Fundraising Officer) on Thursday, March 30. The class is taught by Associate Professor of Organizational Development Dr. Stephen Nyambegera (right).
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Photo: Diana Meso Members of the Class of IBA4010 International Business Operations present KES 17 450 to Mr. James Ogolla (University Advancement Director) on Thursday, March 30. Looking on is Dr. Michael Kirubi (Associate Professor of International Business Operations, Leadership and Ethics).
Photo: Diana Meso Members of the Business Research Methods – 6220D graduate class taught by Assistant Professor of Strategic Management Dr. Juliana Namada, presented a cheque for KES 117 000 to University Advancement Director Mr. James Ogolla, on Thursday, March 29, 2017. The group photo also included members of other classes taught by Dr. Namada, whose contribution was part of the total.
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA NEWSLETTER
6 APRIL - 13 APRIL 2017
Class of 2014 alumna named to Forbes Top 30 under 30 list By Jackie Chirchir and Dan Muchai
Twenty six year old Esther Lugoe - Mengi (IST, ’14) has been listed by Forbes Africa in their 2017 list of the 30 Most Influential Young Entrepreneurs in Africa under the age of 30.
Twenty six year old Esther Lugoe - Mengi (IST, ’14) has
In its sixth year, the annual list has become according
been listed by Forbes Africa in their annual list of the 30
to Forbes, “...an influential and definitive guide to the
Most Influential Young Entrepreneurs in Africa under
most
the age of 30. Mrs. Mengi and her husband Benson, are
entrepreneurial
founders of one of Tanzania’s leading indigenous cyber
companies that will rewrite Africa’s future.”
exceptional
young
leaders
innovators
who
are
and
building
the
security and software development companies Serensic Africa. The company offers cyber security,
The final list was compiled from over 250 entries
software
received
solutions
and
general
IT
consultancy
from
23
African
countries
-
African
entrepreneurs who have not just created a product or
services.
service that is filling a critical need, but are also Some of Serensic’s blue chip clients include IPP Media
ethically and socially responsible.
Group (Tanzania’s largest media house), multinationals Mrs. Mengi, is not the first alumna to make it to the list
(Coca Cola) and the United Nations.
– that honor belongs to Ms. Hellen Dausen (IBA, 2010). On receiving news of her recognition, she paid tribute
She was included in the 2016 edition of the Forbes
to her alma mater, especially the contribution of her
Africa Top 30 under 30 list as founder and organic
former lecturer,
skincare formulator of Nuya's Essence; a natural bath
“I could not be where I am without USIU-Africa
& body care company based in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
especially my lecturer, Mr. Dalton Ndirangu (Lecturer of
Ms. Hellen Dausen (IBA 2010) founded Nuya’s Essence in 2014 and was named in the 2016 list of the 30 Most Influential Young Entrepreneurs in Africa under the age of 30.
Information Systems and Technology), who played a
During her undergraduate career at USIU-Africa,
huge role in inspiring me to achieve my dreams. I am
29-year old won the 2007 edition of Ms. USIU, went on
forever grateful to him for giving me the push I
to win the 2010 Ms. University Tanzania crown and
needed,” she said.
thus represented her country at Miss Universe finals later that year.
Africa’s Talking train IT Club members on using new sandbox environment By Max Musau
environment
On Friday, March 24, members of the IT club in
on
collaboration
with
the
School
of
Science
and
Technology (SST) and Africa’s Talking, organized a technology workshop to train club members and Kenya Methodist University (KeMU) students on how to utilize
and
has
quickly
become
industry
standard practice for developers working in teams and
Africa’s
Talking’s
newly-released
sandbox
environment and Application Programming Interfaces
multiple
projects,
compartmentalize
allowing
different
them
to
development
environments, and thus reduce the risk of technical errors. By the end of the workshop the forty students in attendance
had
successfully
deployed
two
(APIs) into application development.
applications that made use of Voice and Unstructured
APIs are a computer operating system’s tools and
sandbox environment.
Supplementary Service Data (USSD) APIs in the
resources used by developers to create software Photo: Dan Muchai
applications, while a sandbox environment is a
Participants in the Android Developer Code Lab hosted by the IT Club and held at the Innovation and Incubation Center on Friday, March 17.
technology that allows the isolation of running
containerization technology similar to virtualization programs
from
the
operating
system,
allowing
developers to develop and execute programs in a secure environment without risking harm to the operating system. Sandboxes are used by developers to test new programming code in a controlled
This was the second workshop this year facilitated by Africa’s Talking - a mobile technology company whose goal
is
to
unlock
the
potential
of
mobile
communication networks across Africa by simplifying the process and technologies required to exploit them. Since October 2015, the company has partnered with the IT Club and SST to organize hackathons, training workshops and externships.
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UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-AFRICA NEWSLETTER
6 APRIL - 13 APRIL 2017
BLACK HISTORY MONTH MEDIA MENTIONS COMMITTEE APPRECIATED AT CEREMONY
April 13: The Daily Nation mentioned USIU-Africa in an article titled "USIU-Africa raises funds for drought crisis in the country."
http://www.usiu.ac.ke/on-campus/news/media-menti ons/792-usiu-africa-raises-funds-for-drought-crisis-inthe-country April 13: The Standard newspaper mentioned
USIU-Africa in an article titled “Strathmore to defend title as Great Rift 10-Aside.”
http://www.usiu.ac.ke/on-campus/news/media-menti ons/791-strathmore-to-defend-title-as-great-rift-10-as ide April 12: USIU-Africa was mentioned by the Daily
Nation in an article titled “Countries delay East Africa e-passports plan until next year.”
http://www.usiu.ac.ke/on-campus/news/media-menti ons/790-countries-delay-east-africa-e-passports-plan Photo Credit: Black History Month Committee 2017
Black History Month Committee members cut the cake celebrating the completion of a year of dedicated service to the university community.
-until-next-year April 12: KTN mentioned USIU-Africa in the weekend
sports news segment “Ulinzi beats USIU 78 to 65 in the basketball LGE Games”
The
Black
History
Month
Committee
held
the committee’s efforts towards organizing this year’s
Appreciation Ceremony on Wednesday, April 5 at the
celebration, terming the outcome as positive. She
Freida Brown Students Center, to recognize the work of
requested the incoming team to make improvements in
students, members of the Committee and different
terms of participation by the university community - a
divisions of the University involved with Black History
challenge the incoming team promised to take up.
April 10: The Standard newspaper mentioned
IBA Junior, Mr. Tut Marial Wenyin, was introduced as
strike in KBF men's league.”
Month 2017. Members of the committee were presented with certificates of participation and thanked for their year-long service to the university, by the committees’ patron, Assistant Professor of Management Ella
the Committee’s next president, taking over from International Relations Junior Mr. Longangi Antonio Amandla, who completed a historic two successive terms of office.
ons/789-ulinzi-beats-usiu-78-to-65-in-the-basketball-l ge-games
USIU-Africa in an article titled “USIU survive Thunder http://www.usiu.ac.ke/on-campus/news/media-menti ons/788-usiu-survive-thunder-strike-in-kbf-men-s-lea gue April 10: The Daily Nation mentioned USIU-Africa in an article titled “Kisii, Mombasa set for Kenya Cup.”
Dashanaba King. She expressed her satisfaction with
http://www.usiu.ac.ke/on-campus/news/media-menti ons/787-kisii-mombasa-set-for-kenya-cup
Black History Month 2017 Celebrations Overview
April 10: USIU-Africa was mentioned by Bella Naija in an article titled “Say Hello to Mr. Nigeria! Emmanuel Ikubese is our #BellaNaijaMCM this Week.”
http://www.usiu.ac.ke/on-campus/news/media-menti ons/786-say-hello-to-mr-nigeria-emmanuel-ikubese-is
By Antonio Longangi
This year’s Black History Month Opening Ceremony
Nelson (Lecturer, University of Nairobi) presented on
featured the Chancellor Dr. Manu Chandaria, who
The Role of Education in Shaping Culture and Identity;
delivered the keynote speech, in which he underlined
Prof. Macharia Munene (Professor of History and
the role of individuals in shaping the world, while
International Relations) discussed African Education in
inviting his audience to take charge of their lives and
History; and finally Dr. Duncan Ojwang (Law Lecturer,
communities.
University of Nairobi) elaborated on “Questioning the Appropriateness of Legal Research in Kenya”.
Class of 2009 Journalism alumnus Abdi Latif Dahir, who is also a graduate of the Columbia School of
The Paa Ya Paa Art & Cultural Center played host to six
Journalism presented his documentary “Diamond in
primary schools from Kasarani, during the BHM Family
the Rough” – a treatise on education in Somalia -
Fun Day, while a Coffee Chat hosted by Assistant
followed by a discussion with his audience of 120
Professors of Management Dashanaba Ella King and
students.
Scott Bellows discussed the panelists’ experiences within the context of race issues in the USA and Africa.
The Pan-African Symposium was moderated by Dr.
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http://www.usiu.ac.ke/on-campus/news/media-menti
an
Maina Muchara and featured a panel of experts led by
Finally,
Prof.
Leah
Marang’u,
Africa
Ms. Muthoni Wanyeki (Regional Director - Amnesty
University Vice Chancellor, concluded this year’s
International), who discussed the State of Human
celebrations with a keynote speech on the role
Rights in Africa and our Formal Education . Dr. Mari
education should play in developing Africa, during the Closing Ceremony on Friday, February 28.
Nazarene
-our-bellanaijamcm-this-week April 7: The Daily Nation mentioned USIU-Africa in an article titled “Top dogs ready to bite in KBF leagues.”
http://www.usiu.ac.ke/on-campus/news/media-menti ons/785-top-dogs-ready-to-bite-in-kbf-leagues April 5: USIU-Africa was mentioned by KTN during the morning express “There stories to be told in the crime justice system..."USIU Lecturer-Koki Ochieng.”
http://www.usiu.ac.ke/on-campus/news/media-menti ons/784-there-stories-to-be-told-in-the-crime-justicesystem-usiu-lecturer-koki-ochieng April 4: The Standard newspaper mentioned
USIU-Africa in an article titled “Zetech beat USIU to maintain unbeaten run since 2015.” http://www.usiu.ac.ke/on-campus/news/media-menti ons/783-zetech-beat-usiu-to-maintain-unbeaten-run-s ince-2015