President Kibaki hails the late Jaramogi Odinga

By Lawrence Aluru

Bondo, Kenya:  President Mwai Kibaki has praised the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga as a gallant leader who spearheaded the repeal of the section 2a of the constitution that brought multi party in 1992.

Speaking during the ceremony at Bondo University College which was granted charter and named Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, he said that he was lured into politics by Odinga.

“He used to visit us at the Makerere University to speak to us about joining them in fighting the colonial rule,” said the Head of State.

Kibaki who recalled how Jaramogi was astute leader in his days was passionate about the country and that he helped turn its head into politics.

He made a joke when he said that one time he told the late Oginga that he will tell the lecturer about joining politics in Kenya but then Oginga told him that it was not necessary as it was a personal decision.

The head of state said that he warned him not join politics as a graduate who had acquired degrees from Makerere and other universities but as an underdog who wanted to grow in it.

He thanked the PM Raila Odinga for honouring Jaramogi with a mausoleum and said that such leaders deserved such honour for their hard work.

President Kibaki granted a charter to Bondo University College making it the 16th public university in the country.

He said that as Kenya goes to the general elections, Kenyans must place the leadership of this country to those who have clear vision of development.

The occasion was attended by among others Prime Minister Raila Odinga, ministers Margret Kamar (Higher Education) James Orengo (Lands), Otieno Kajwang (Immigration) and Fred Gumo (Regional Development).

He said universities will continue offering diploma courses, saying it formed bulk of the work force in the country.

Mr Raila said education is an important investment as it would see the country achieve vision 2030.

“We must therefore do all things possible to see our country invest in education to uplift the standards of life in the country,” he said.

Kibaki urged stakeholders to ensure newly created universities are benchmarked with the best in world.