President Kenyatta announces reinstatement of Presbyterian University’s operating license

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday announced the reinstatement of the letter of interim authority to the Presbyterian University of East Africa.

Speaking when he joined the Christian faithful for a Sunday service at PCEA St. Andrew’s Church in Nairobi, President Kenyatta said the Government is satisfied with the progress made by the university to meet the required standards for the reinstatement of the letter of interim authority.

While handing over a copy of the letter to the institution, the President urged its leadership to continue implementing all the recommendations made by the government saying that by doing so the university would become a centre of knowledge, science, innovation and research as was intended by its founders.

“Your commitment to establish the Presbyterian University of East Africa as a top notch institution of higher learning is a reflective of your enduring spirit, action to progress the training of our people. The Government of Kenya is cognisant of these efforts and commends you,” said President Kenyatta.

The President said the PCEA church has been instrumental in the growth of the education and health sectors in the country in addition to its primary role of propagating the gospel.

The Government had revoked the license earlier in the year, after the institution failed to meet the required standards set by the Commission for University Education (CUE) having been awarded the letter of interim authority in the 2007.

President Kenyatta also challenged religious leaders to be in the forefront championing true values of the society saying it doesn’t augur well for church leaders to keep quiet when the society is going astray.

“I expect you to single out the wrong things and speak against them. As spiritual leaders you have the mandate to call any individual who might be doing wrong to order. You should not be afraid to speak and correct people,” President Kenyatta said.

He challenged parents and Kenyans at large to impart the right values to children, saying that is the only sure way of building a strong moral society.

The Head of State observed that cases of exam leakage are as a result of many parents wanting their children to achieve higher grades, which at the end do not benefit them

“Where does a child get Kshs 100,000 to pay for a stolen exam? Isn’t it you who give them, can a class 8 child get Kshs 100,000 to pay for an exam? Isn’t it the parents who give them that money?” the President wondered.

He said parents should stop the culture of pressurising their children to achieve particular grades in school knowing well God has given each individual gifts and talents to use in building the country.

“Let us allow our children to develop, let us not encourage them to take shortcuts to get degrees that end up being meaningless because the child was not properly prepared and all that you have done is to buy exams,” said President Kenyatta.

The President said children who may not be able to make it to universities can be absorbed into technical colleges where they are able to be trained and their gifts and talents sharpened to enable them contribute positively to the nation building.

Rt. Rev Julius Guantai Mwambai, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, delivered the sermon in which he challenged Kenyans to work hard so as to build a strong and stable nation.

Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja and his nominated colleague Beth Mugo were among other leaders who spoke during the church service.

Senator Sakaja commended President Kenyatta for his steadfastness in steering the country on the path of national unity and economic prosperity.

“It is said leaders think of the next generation and politicians think of the next election, you have demonstrated that you are a true leader,” Senator Sakaja said.