Mount Kenya University Opens Cafeteria And Fitness Centre

Mount Kenya University (MKU) has opened a staff cafeteria and fitness centre at the main campus in Thika town, a big boost to its staff in efforts to keep fit during this Covid-19 period. The facility termed as first-class by university chairman, Prof Simon Gicharu, has an ultra-modern fitness studio that is equipped with latest training machines and equipment.

Prof Gicharu said the MKU fitness centre is an improvement from a facility that the staff had been using over the years, which putt off several of them from exercising.

He said effective use of the fitness centre would minimize health risks and even reduce premiums the university pays for its staff health insurance.

“Exercise is the best medicine especially at this time of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Prof. Gicharu said during the launch. “This facility is a comfort gym for our staff members. It is a milestone that will put MKU amongst the few universities in the country that have a state-of-the-art Senior Common Room. Our students are equally supported through various recreational facilities in our campuses.”

He said the facilities would also improve the rate of socialization and bonding among the staff, thereby creating a conducive environment for better performance.

MKU Vice chancellor (VC), Prof Deogratius Jaganyi, said a similar facility will be put up at the MKU Kigali campus in Rwanda. “In our current strategic plan, we have called for excellence in delivery of programmes, which include hospitality projects.  This facility is also a new platform for training of our students,” said Prof Jaganyi.

Also under construction is a convention centre at the Thika campus. The facilities being launched add to the modern academic resources and business units needed to support practical training, internship opportunities for students in the school of hospitality, travel and tourism management.

Others are the golf residence in Mombasa County that supports the School of Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Management; TV47 (Kenya) and Royal FM radio in Rwanda that support practical and professional journalism training and internship opportunities for students and alumni.

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