Lynette OgollahThe absence of former Prime Minister Raila Oding’a loomed large over Uzima University as it celebrated its fifth graduation ceremony, and a full university charter granted on the appeal of the late prime minister.
The university was set up 15 years ago by its founder the former Catholic Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth pioneering programmes in Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, Nursing and Microbiology.
The institution later expanded its academic offerings with the introduction of Clinical Medicine, progressed to receiving a Letter of Interim Authority and achieved a major milestone in 2024 with the awarding of a full university charter.
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President William Samoei Ruto noted that during the campaign for the issuance of the university charter, the Archbishop enlisted the support of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who personally engaged him on the institution’s journey.
Raila Odinga highlighted Uzima University’s humble beginnings, which included early fundraising efforts in Kisumu and affirmed that the institution had met all the required conditions for the granting of a charter.
The President praised Uzima University for steadily distinguishing itself as a bold and emerging force in Kenya’s higher education landscape, citing its growing impact in medical training, research and service to society.
“Uzima University has carved out its place in medical training and stands ready to leave an incredible mark on our nation,” President Ruto said.
Today, the Uzima Global Campus serves as a bridge between the Global North and the Global South, bringing world class medical expertise directly to Kenya, particularly Kisumu. Visiting medical trainers from leading institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University and the University of Oxford who have been offering hands on clinical training to students and faculty.
“These engagements go beyond transferring knowledge, they impart life saving skills that define modern healthcare,” the President noted.
Uzima’s international exchange programmes have strengthened healthcare capacity and professional excellence, while specialist collaborations have expanded access to neurosurgical care, demonstrating the power of diaspora expertise working alongside global talent.
Through major global research partnerships, the university is now positioning itself to establish a world class oncology and hematology research centre, a clinical trials hub and a training ground for the next generation of cancer specialists.
“These initiatives complete the picture of a university firmly focused on excellence, relevance and service to society,” President Ruto said.
The Head of State used the occasion to reflect on the broader national agenda, calling for a renewed commitment to ambition and excellence. Quoting that “a nation rises only as high as the level of its ambition,” he underscored recent reforms aimed at transforming Kenya’s socio-economic landscape.
He also highlighted the implementation of the new Student Funding Model, which anchors university support on demonstrated need, restoring fairness and stability to higher education financing.
“These reforms matter because they shape the country that today’s graduates are stepping forward to serve and strengthen,” President Ruto said.
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