The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of Kenya Maj Gen Robert Kibochi and President Uhuru Kenyatta’s elder sister Kristina Pratt were among 5,000 graduands who were awarded honorary degrees by Kenyatta University during its 51st graduation ceremony.
Dr. Kibochi who graduated with a doctorate in peace and conflict studies was among 67 Ph.D. graduands out of a total of over 5,000.
Ms. Pratt was conferred with a doctorate in humane letters (honoris causa) for her exemplary dedication to persons with special needs.
This was also the first official event to take place following the ouster of Vice-Chancellor Prof Paul Wainaina and the appointment of a new council headed by Prof Crispus Kiamba, following a spat with the President over a disputed piece of land held by the Kenyatta University Teaching Research and Referral Hospital.
The occasion also marked the first time in two years that the graduation ceremony was held physically since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic when it took place virtually.
“Ms. Pratt’s interest and dedication to serving people with disabilities grew when she was studying in the United States at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels,” read her citation by acting VC Prof Waceke Wanjohi.
“She is a symbol of humility to many people, who teaches by example the art of dedicating life to the social good. The extent of her service to the society especially to the physically and visually challenged is unequaled,’ it read.”
In her acceptance speech, Pratt said she will dedicate the award to her parents; the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, her mother Mama Ngina Kenyatta, and her children as well as grandchildren.
A statement from General Kibochi’s office stated that the CDF’s efforts were intended to motivate young military leaders towards knowledge seeking “which is necessary for a dynamic and complex security environment.”
