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UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI - ~COLLEGEOF eOUCATlOH'HOeX1ERHAL SlUOIES

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

a challenge. Efforts spread over 10 years to com- .plete the building projects only created an eye sore.with the local population believing that all Univer-sity projects are white elephants. There was quitesome suffering for both students and staff as theygrappled with teaching space, library facilities andaccommodation. Indeed, students were inconve-nienced as they shuttled to the JKLM every Tuesdayand Friday to make reference. The old library whichwas housed near the kitchen used to operate lateat night and over holidays to meet the demands ofover 1,500 regular students and 11,000 distancelearning and extra mural students.

This all changed in 2005 following the face lift un-

The School of Education complex consists of the library, lecturetheatres, office space and communication and speech laboratories.

NADEQUATE RESOURCES COMPOUNDEDthe problem of reviving and completingseveral stalled building projects on variouscampuses. The University managementprioritized the projects and with injection

of capital generated from internal sources wasable to complete most of the stalled projects andconstruct new ones. We bring you highlights ofprojects completed in the last five years.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND EXTERNALSTUDIES

For several years the infrastructure at the College ofIEducation and External Studies (CEESI remained

61 VARSITY FOCUS 1March 2010

dertaken by the University administra-tion. In 2005, the Library Hill complexwas completed and handed over offi-cially. The complex which consisted ofa library and teaching facilities for theschool of Education cost 115,745,800million.

The School of Education space in-cludes two large lecture theatres, tu-ition rooms, office space and communi-cation and speech laboratories.

The Library complex consists of a twostorey building with a capacity of 1,200

.readers, and over 200,000 books andreference materials. The library is fullycomputerized matching only the JKLMin terms of reading space and books.

KisumuIn 2007, the University purchased theformer British Council library in Kisumu.The purpose of buying the building, es-timated at Kshs 40 million, was to con-solidate the activities of the Universityin the western region, it was clear thatthe presence of the University wouldlead to increased activities in Kisumu.

The University now has office space,class rooms, a modern computerisedlibrary, a computer lab and an amphi-theatre specifically for theatre arts.

Warden's houseIn 2006, management supported therehabilitation of a warden's house atKikuyu campus to the tune of Kshs 5million. The one storey house whichstands on the frontage of the Campushas brought in a new aesthetic on in-frastructure within the University. Thehouse is occupied by a senior memberof staff who can oversee student aucommodation and needs on the cam-pus first hand.

The Ultra modern Examination Centre com-

pleted in 2008 at a cost of Kshs 110 million.

COLLEGE OF BIOLOGICAL ANDPHYSICAL SCIENCES

Central Examination CentreAs part of its effort to improve the learn-ing environment and to ensure that ourstated objectives of becoming a leadinginstitution of higher learning, produc-ing quality and professional graduates,the University management undertookthe construction of a modern CentralExamination Centre. The Centre whichwas completed in 2008, at the cost of110,900 million has two examinationrooms with a capacity of 1,000 stu-dents each, office space, a computingunit and wide reception rooms. TheCentre is fully networked, and under24-hour security surveillance.

CESIS renovationsIn 2007, the International Centre forInsect Physioloqy and Ecology (ICIPE)donated its former headquarters atChiromo to the University of Nairobi.The centre, which is worth Kshs 40million has been renovated further bythe University to the tune of kshs 5million, is the home of the Centre forBiotechnology and Informatics (CE-BIB) of the University of Nairobi. Thisbuilding is now part of the University's

Main Feature

revamped facilities, attracting interna-tional support worth 500,000 dollarsfrom USAID.

The centre has been critical in fa-cilitating and strengthening researchand development in the areas of bio-technology and bioinformatics in theregion and contributing immensely toKenya's and African development.

The revamped facility has opened upspace for a molecular biology laboraro-ty, a transformation laboratory, a tissueculture laboratory, a bioinformaticsunit a genomics platform, office space,cabinets, and a microbiology and my-cology laboratory.

Cabro worksAs part of the goal to beatify the Uni-versity, the management facilitatedthe paving of the trunk road fromYMCA to Chiromo campus at the costof 2,826,150 million. The cabro roadworks which commenced in July 2008were completed by September of thesame year. The management also sup-ported the cabro works for car parksin the College to the tune of kshs7,947,770 million. These works werehailed as a welcome move because fora number of years, staff and students

VARSITY FOCUS 1 March 201017