Mount Kenya University’s founder, Simon Gicharu, has awarded Ksh 100,000 to Hamia Adhiambo Ouma, a Diploma in Business Management student at MKU Nakuru Campus, for submitting the winning name for the university’s new auditorium.
Her creative entry, “Infinite Quest Auditorium,” resonated deeply with the institution’s motto, “Unlocking Infinite Possibilities.”
Gicharu praised the choice as a meaningful extension of MKU’s guiding vision.
“The name reflects the university’s mission to empower learners through education, research, and innovation,” he said as he presented her the award.
Adhiambo expressed heartfelt gratitude for the recognition. She shared that she plans to invest her Ksh 100,000 prize money into farming activities in Nyando, Kisumu County, to support both her education and her family.
Her plans underscore a practical and purposeful use of the award in line with MKU’s ethos of empowering individuals.
The highly anticipated Infinity Quest Auditorium is set to debut on September 26, 2025, during the MKU Interdisciplinary Conference, themed “Emerging Technologies and Sustainable Practices.”
Jacqueline Omuya, director of MKU Nakuru Campus, highlighted the significance of the occasion.
She described it as a testament to the university’s dedication to modern infrastructure, student talent, and active community involvement.
The new auditorium will provide a dynamic venue for conferences, lectures, and collaborative events a milestone in MKU’s expanding infrastructure.
While this marks a celebratory moment, MKU has also navigated its share of challenges in recent times. A student recently reported being locked out of unit registration despite paying full fees because of missing a deadline by a few hours, forcing her to defer her studies, even after borrowing to clear the balance.
Others have raised concerns online about slow, glitchy student portals, unprofessional administrative behaviour, and failures in communication and support systems. These criticisms reflect systemic issues requiring attention.
Still, MKU also boasts a record of impactful initiatives and progress. Students have performed strongly, for example, coming second in the Kenya CFA Institute Research Challenge, gaining practical experience in financial analysis and ethics.
The university has also invested in innovation through participation in global AI competitions, including the IBM Call for Code challenge, and has established a modern Innovation and Incubation Centre to nurture entrepreneurial projects.
Complementing its infrastructure and student talent, MKU has engaged in meaningful community work, partnering with organisations to improve water, sanitation and health in rural areas through clean water initiatives and jigger treatment.
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