Coast varsity team set up

A 17-member team was yesterday appointed to spearhead establishment of a university at the Coast.
The task force comprising scholars from the region, has been given a fortnight to come up with proposals on location of the university, infrastructure and curriculum.
MPs from the region will be ex-officio members.
Named Pwani varsity
During a stakeholders meeting chaired by Coast provincial commissioner Ernest Munyi, it was agreed that the new institution be named Pwani University.
Earlier, Lamu West MP Fahim Twaha had suggested that they name it Kibaki University in recognition of the President’s efforts to seek funds for the institution.
However, the other leaders and academicians overruled him saying Kenyans must stop the trend of naming institutions after leaders.
Some MPs had proposed that the university be situated at Kilifi Institute of Agriculture.
Members of the team include the Egerton University deputy vice-chancellor, Prof Shaukat Abdulrazak, and Moi University lecturer Prof Justin Irina.
Others are: Dr Athman Lali, Dr Mtana Lewa, Dr Juma Makopa, Dr Rita Lugogo, Dr Johnstone Kazungu, Dr Gabriel Katana and Dr Nesbert Mangale.
Ten districts

Supkem Mombasa branch chairman Sheikh Juma Ngao and Mombasa Catholic Diocese Education Secretary Fr Wilybard Lagho, are also members of the task force.
The leaders proposed that the new university should have campuses in each of the 10 districts in the province.

The MPs were: Chirau Ali Mwakwere (Matuga), Najib Balala (Mvita), Ramadhan Kajembe (Changamwe) and Suleiman Shakombo (Likoni).
Others were: Joseph Kingi (Ganze), Anania Mwaboza (Kisauni) and Mr Twaha (Lamu West).
Provincial Administration assistant minister Joseph Kingi challenged the stakeholders to improve existing secondary schools in order to prepare students for the university.
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Daily Nation
Story by JUMA NAMLOLA
Publication Date: 4/17/2007