During his installation on June 5, 2020, Prof. Kiama delivered a moving speech. In his speech, Prof. Kiama indicated that in 2016, the Chancellor recommended a visitation of the university. The Visitation Panel, in its wisdom, observed that one of the constraints impeding institutional planning and management for productivity, efficiency and results at the University was the absence of a coordinated university-wide data management and access system. We therefore need to invest our energies and resources towards setting up a comprehensive and integrated data management system. This will entail reengineering our business processes and embedding the use of technology in curriculum content delivery, human resource management, financial management, student management including the administration of exams, research grants management, timetabling, to name but a few. Data will change how decisions are made, optimize deployment of resources and improve overall systemic output. In the competitive environment that we find ourselves in, leveraging verifiable data to lower decision turnaround time, to seize time-sensitive opportunities and to make better predictions to outsmart competition cannot be gainsaid.
The Vice Chancellor further stated that the University has over the years grown in size and complexity. To stay in step with the needs of the university, I believe that there is compelling need to refresh our management, administrative, oversight and governance structures. This will entail elimination of redundant and overlapping systems, processes, structures and reporting centres; inbuilding of top-bottom flow of power, resources, responsibility and accountability to the lowest levels and institutionalization of efficient decision and policy making and implementation at every level.
Going forward, Prof. Kiama emphasised that the University under his leadership now needs to embark on the path of fit-for-purpose training. “We need to relook at our university course offerings and to assess the level to which they respond to market, industry, societal and government needs as well as to weed out redundant and overlapping courses and programmes. Additionally, we should interrogate the depth of substance coverage in so far as delivery of curricula and inculcation of practical skills are concerned, integrate industry in our teaching and research, review our research exploits to encourage vertical progression in pursuit of new knowledge, standardize and laterally integrate our curricula and integrate entrepreneurial spirit and culture throughout our programmes”. Lastly, there is need to recalibrate the metrics of world class-talent and to make deliberate effort towards internationalization of the University.
To conclude his speech, Prof. Kiama indicated that he was conscious of the huge burden of responsibility weighing heavily on his shoulders. His final remarks were “I Stephen Kiama Gitahi, am neither a miracle worker nor one that possess the monopoly of knowledge; I am neither a magician nor one that can play God. I am just the leader of the band! I promise to serve you with honesty, diligence and humility. I promise to be firm and fair, to lend a listening ear to you and to your concerns and to, as much as is humanly possible, make decisions grounded on law. In return, I appeal to you staff and students to make every effort to recalibrate our collective culture and attitudes towards teamwork, upholding discipline and integrity, commitment to duty and scholarship, efficiency and excellence. With your support and dedication of time and energies in honest service to this university, we are set to reach the Promised Land and build an enduring legacy of academic excellence”.
Congratulations to Prof. Kiama on his installation.