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April 2007:

Strathmore Rolls Out Worldwide Annual Fund Campaign

Alumni Leader Peter Muthoka '61 (l) with Strathmore Alumni Liaison Officer David Ndolo.

Strathmore Alumni gather for Strathmore New Kenya Annual Fund Launch event.

Invoking its long-standing motto "That All May Be One", Strathmore University has launched worldwide its Strathmore New Kenya Annual Fund Campaign. In a pioneering effort to achieve self-sustainability as an independent African university, Strathmore is calling of all its alumni and friends to partner with it to expand and improve its distinctive capacity building for Kenya.

Funds raised this year by the Annual Campaign wil lbe dedicated to student scholarships.

"Strathmore has big dreams," noted Vice Chancellor Prof. John Odhiambo. "And a big responsibility, too. Kenya needs a strong Strathmore. The Strathmore family is vibrant, loyal, and capable. Working together through Strathmore, we can continue to do good things and build a better future for Kenya."

"This is an exciting and very important initiative," commented Prof. David C. Sperling, Strathmore's founding principal and now senior advisor to the Vice Chancellor. "I have enormous confidence that our Strathmore graduates will rise to the occasion."

In a universal letter on behalf of the Strathmore Alumni Leadership Committee, alumni pioneers Peter Muthoka '61, Raphael Ngethe '67, and Eva Beauttah '65 appeal to all Strathmore alumni to become Founding Partners of the Strathmore New Kenya Annual Fund. The letter explains the nature and purpose of an annual fund, a well-established fundraising process at many leading world-class universities. The origins of annual funds dates back to 1922, when Harvard University in the US initiated the concept.

"This modern institutional practice is something new for subSaharan Africa," said Muthoka. "It is an opportunity for Kenya to adopt an important mode of self-reliance. In keeping with the Strathmore spirit, we desire that Strathmore be the first to introduce it."

A key element to the Annual Fund's success is widespread participation. Invoking the "Strathmore Spirit", the University believes that a high percentage of alumni will join in. "No donation is too small," said Ngethe. "Every donation is critical. Strathmore asks for your support in whatever amount you feel you can offer."

Contributions to the Annual Fund can be received in shillings at Strathmore's development office in Nairobi. They can be made in other currencies at its foundation office in the United States (Strathmore University Foundation, 20 Nassau St., Suite 232, Princeton, NJ 08542 USA).

Donations can also be made online at www.strathmorefoundation.org.

SUF's Tom Pyle Teaches Nairobi Executives at Strathmore Business School

As a Strathmore Business School visting fellow, SUF Executive Director Tom Pyle recently conducted an SBS Executive Education course on Leadership and Strategy in Nairobi for a leading Kenyan insurance comapny. Thirty of the company's senior executives, including its CEO, joined Pyle at the Simba Lodge in Naivasha for the five day intensive course.

Featuring prominently in the course was the developmentof corporate strategy through the use of the Balanced Scorecard using the Nine Steps to Success™ methodolgy of the Balanced Scorecard Institute.

Strathmore Field Hockey Team Wins East Africa Championship

In their first appearance in international competition, Strathmore University men's field hockey team, The Gladiators, became East Africa clubs' champions after beating their Kenyan arch rivals Simba Union of Nairobi 2-0 in a tightly fought final at Moshi, Tanzania on Sunday, 25th March 2007.

On their road to the finals, the Gladiators beat Arusha Twiga of Tanzania 8–3. They then dismissed Re-union Island 9–0. In the semi-finals, Gladiators, who are also the 2006 Kenya national hockey champions, beat the championship hosts, Moshi Khalsa of Tanzania 2-1.

Apart from lifting the champion's trophy, the team's main striker Bromwel Liodi earned the MVP honors and the top scorer trophy after scoring five goals. The Gladiators’ coach attributed the success of his players to high levels of disciplined play which was evident in the whole championship. None of the SU players was issued a caution card or a referee warning.

ACCA Awards Strathmore "Premier Plus" Institutional Status

Strathmore VC Prof. John Odhiambo receives Premier Plus award from ACCA's Andrew Steele.

Recognizing Strathmore’s quality of education, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has awarded Strathmore University its Premier Plus status under its University and College Registration Scheme (UCRS). This is ACCA’s highest level of accreditation.

Strathmore University becomes the first ACCA tuition provider in East Africa, and the third in all of Africa, to receive the distinction. UCRS is designed to recognize tuition providers who meet a set of specific quality criteria.

To be eligible for Premier Plus status, a tuition provider must meet results targets over two consecutive examination sittings. The results targets for each examination session are based on ACCA's worldwide pass rates and are assessed in five specific areas: facilities, student support, materials, tuition, and course management.

March 2007:

Prof. Ryan Presents at "Money in Africa" Conference in London

The Chairman of the Strathmore University Council, Professor Terry Ryan, presented a paper titled "The monetization of Kenya: 1824 to 1924" at the Money in Africa Conference held at the British Museum in London from 9 to 11 March, 2007.

In his paper, Professor Ryan looks at the ways in which monetization first began along the East African coast and subsequently spread inland through trade, the movement of monetized peoples into the interior and the creation of colonial financial and monetary institutions. Among the attractive features of the paper is an Appendix outlining the various coins and notes circulating as "money" during the period between 1888 and 1924.

Professor Ryan holds a PhD in Economics from MIT. He taught at University of Nairobi for many years before he was appointed Kenya's Economic Secretary. He now consults on macro-economic issues.

Feburary 2007:

SALO Launches New Website

The Strathmore Alumni Liaison Office (SALO) has launched its new website: www.salo-kenya.org. SALO aims to promote and coordinate Strathmore and Kianda alumni activities world-wide.

Pauline Kuria, SALO’s Alumni Affairs Coordinator, said that the website continues to grow as alumni all over the world register at the website every day. On March 29, 2007, Strath alum Patrick Muteti (Faculty of Information Technology) became the 100th person to register at the site. David Ndolo, SALO Liaison Officer, urges all alumni to register at the website. SALO has been holding class re-unions.

December 2006:

Prof. Jim McFee concludes PhD studies, visits USA.

Popular Strathmore Professor Jim McFie visited Washington, New York, and Boston upon the successful conclusion of his Ph.D. studies in Accountancy at University of Strathclyde in Scotland.

In Washington, Jim visited Roderick Hills, Esq., Chairman of the Hills Program of Governance, to discuss possibilities for establishing a new Hills Center for Governance in Kenya with Strathmore's help. He was also guest of honor of honor at a STRAFA Washington gathering, attended by, among others, alumni Ruben Marwanga, Tashu Trivedi, Elizabeth Njai, Mwangi Mathinji, Jediah Elungata as well as Strathmore Friends Richard America, Guy Pfefferman, and Lorianne Updike.

In New York, Jim was guest of honor at a gathering of STRAFA New York, organized by Strathmore alumna Brenda Kasigwa.

In Boston, Jim attended Professor Michael Porter's course at Harvard Business School. He was also guest of honor at a gathering of STRAFA Boston. Among those attending were alumni Joseph Mutuga (Harvard Business School), Grace Macharia (PricewaterhouseCoopers), and Martin Mbaya (Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Also attending was Kianda School pioneer teacher Elise Rockart and husband Jack, Harvard lecturer Rick Sobel, Dr. Nancy Sobel, Donald Sanya (son of Strathmore alumnus Abner), artist Lynne Klemmer, and educator Randi Shenkman.

Jim will return to Kenya in January, where he will take up teaching duties at the new Strathmore Business School.

September 2006:

Strathmore Business School Director George Njenga joins African business school leadership cohort.

See story at: http://www.strathmore.edu/news/aabs_cnn.html.

August 2006:

Strathmore Alumni and Friends Association (STRAFA) inaugurates San Francisco chapter.

Spring 2006:

Baroness Chalker helps Strathmore University launch Advanced Management Program.

The Strathmore Alumni and Friends Association achieved coast-to-coast coverage when a new chapter was formed in San Francisco in August. Organized by Strathmore alumnus Patrick Chemngorem, fourteen Strathmore alumni gathered at the home of Strathmore Friend, Stanley Mbugua, for the founding meeting and a traditional nyoma choma barbecue. Strathmore University Foundation Executive Director Tom Pyle was guest of honor.

Strathmore University made history recently with the launching of Strathmore Business School’s Advanced Management Program (AMP). Special guests (and SBS Advisors) Baroness Lynda Chalker, former UK international development minister, and Titus Naikuni, Kenya Airways CEO, spoke at the ceremonies.

Vice Chancellor John Odhiambo said the program would seek to surpass international standards through partnerships with IESE Business School of Spain and other leading universities.

The program is based on independent research and keen understanding of qualities that bring out the full potential of business leaders. Students will be exposed to business case studies around the world. “This will assist business people to know what really works in companies,” Baroness Chalker said. "I am a great supporter of case-study learning and use of information technology to solve business problems," she added.

Strathmore Business School will next launch its MBA program in January 2007.

Spring 2005:

Dr. David Sperling's Spring 2005 visit to USA.

November 2004:

Kenya Vice President Moody Awori receives visit from Strathmore University Foundation Executive Director Tom Pyle. Kenya Times, November 24, 2004.

Vice-President, Moody Awori, receives a copy of an autography book by Barrack Obama as a token gift by the visiting Executive Director of Strathmore University Foundation in the United States of America (USA), Mr Thomas H. Pyle, who called on him at his Nairobi residence on Sunday.
— Picture by O. Onyango of VPPS

October 2004:

U.S. Ambassador, at Strathmore Conference, Challenges Kenya to Overhaul Bad Policies and Develop Faster, Sunday Standard, September 5, 2004.

The United States has asked the Government to speed up the privatisation of Telkom Kenya and open up Internet services to competition.

US ambassador William Bellamy said Kenyans are paying heavily for Telkom’s inefficiency and the country is missing out on the many opportunities created by rapid communications.

He attributed the failures to the government’s flawed Information Communication Technology (ICT) policies.

US ambassador William Bellamy

"The inescapable reality is this: Kenya can only get out of the mire of poverty and ‘third-world’ dependency by becoming a modern, flexible and transparent ‘first-world’ society," Bellamy said, adding that Kenya’s social problems were increasing and had worsened over the decades.

For 10 to 15 years, Bellamy said, institutions and social structures have suffered from bad governance, entrenched corruption and an across-the-board loss of international confidence.

"Faced with such unhappy statistics, it is no wonder that alleviating poverty, reducing hunger and improving health are among the top priorities in Kenya’s Economic Recovery Strategy, its strategic roadmap for a brighter future," he said.

The ambassador said no amount of foreign aid would end Kenya’s poverty and the cycle would only be checked by a "genuine and dynamic" growth fueled by investment and private sector initiatives.

Read the entire article.

October 2004:

Strathmore teams up with Microsoft, Intel, Archway for Kenya "Power Up" IT Campaign.

Strathmore has joined a group of Kenyan companies in a nationwide campaign Power Up with Information Technology. Starting in 19 October 2004 in Mombasa, an educative road-show passes through Mombasa, Nyeri, Nakuru, Kisumu and ends in Nairobi.

intel logo.gif microsoft logo.gif strathmore logo.jpg

The campaign has a multimedia package containing a book + CD, web-site, online award competition, conferences, open house, demo's, public debates and radio-shows. The roadshow focus is on real ICT applications in agriculture, education, city governance, co-ops and sacco's. The roadshow ends 10 December 2004 in Nairobi with Competition Award Finalists

The Power Up with ICT campaign has been initiated by Archway Technology Management, Ltd., a company based in Kenya with activities in East and Southern Africa. Archway deals with ICT market research, publishing, project concepts.

Read the entire story.

August 20, 2004:

Strathmore Graduation--Minister Saitoti Lauds "Strathmore Concept"

On a beautiful Nairobi afternoon at the Strathmore campus, a new crop of Strathmore graduates received their certificates and diplomas. A total of 529 Strathmore students are the latest group to join the distinguish family Strathmore University alumni.

In a speech delivered at the ceremony, Kenya Education Minister George Saitoti praised what he called "The Strathmore Concept".

"I am impressed by the rapid growth of this university in pursuance of academic excellence," the Minister said. "This university is unique in that it is guided by the Strathmore Concept, of which you are beneficiaries. Because of the Strathmore Concept, you will not only go out to the world of service provision with just a piece of paper, but will also have enhanced Charter and life skills to deal competently with those with whom you come into contact.

Saitoti continued, "You will need to uphold the high standards of service to others you will work with and be men and women of integrity. These two virtues are very important as you serve this nation and even more important in Accountancy, Information and Leadership and Management. There is no doubt in my mind that, with the kind of training you have gone through, you will be able to maintain these qualities."

Saitoti praised the University for establishing an effective distance learning facility that has since penetrated the prison walls in, a special programme meant to educate Prisoners at the Naivasha Maximum Prison on Information Technology principles.

The university is also involved in curriculum training of accountants in Rwanda through its school of accountancy. Saitoti challenged the management of private universities to embrace a business-minded approach to issues as a way of encouraging cooperation with entrepreneurs present in the country.

“It is important to foster close working relationships with the private sector, who are the ultimate Consumers of the business community produced in universities,” Saitoti advised.

Also speaking during the graduation, Vice Chancellor John Odhambo pledged to start a revolving fund to increase the level of scholarships and expand institutional facilities in the college. Odhiambo pledged to transform approach to higher education by integrating community concerns directly into the curriculum.

"We will insist that the education we provide embodies clear ethical principles that will insist that the students continue being guided by human values such as good governance, accountability, honesty, transparency and professional competence in their professional life,"Odhiambo said.

May 16, 2004:

Guinness donates Kshs 10 Million for Business Scholarships

Kenya Breweries Ltd, through its brand Guinness, has announced that it would fund ten business scholarships degrees at Strathmore University.

This is the forth year that Guinness has provided ten business scholarships for Commerce and IT degrees at the University. This year however, Guinness has increased the value of the scholarships to also cover accommodation.

Since 2001, Guinness has donated Kshs. 35 million shillings to the Guinness Strathmore Scholarship programme and funded 40 scholarship places for students from all over Kenya . This year at least one student from each province will be selected for a scholarship.

Read the entire story.

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April 23, 2004:

Strathmore To Offer Microfinance Training, Teams Up with Swisscontact, AMFI

Further advancing its mission to serve Kenya and its region, Strathmore University has begun planning efforts to offer a post-graduate diploma course in microfinance. The University has signed a tripartite agreement with Swisscontact and the Kenya affiliate of the Association of Microfinance Institutions, an associate of Women's World Banking, to help it develop and operate a microfinance program in Kenya. The three partners have formed a technical committee that will work out detailed preparations with a view to offering the diploma program by the start of 2005.

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Microfinance is the provision of a broad range of financial services such as deposits, loans, payment services, money transfers, and insurance to poor and low-income households and their microenterprises. Generally speaking, there are three types of sources of microfinance: formal institutions (i.e., rural banks and cooperatives), semiformal institutions (i.e., nongovernment organizations), and informal sources (i.e., money lenders and shopkeepers). Institutional microfinance includes microfinance services provided by both formal and semiformal institutions. Microfinance institutions are institutions whose major business is the provision of microfinance services.

(To draw attention to the importance and potential of microfinance as a vehicle for positive change in poor countries, the United Nations, thought its Capital Development Fund, has declared 2005 to be the Year of Microcredit, in which Strathmore expects to play a role. For more details about UNCDP’s program, see http://www.uncdf.org/english/microfinance/.)

For a recent report on the local efforts and effects of microfinance, see “Debate Stirs Over Tiny Loans for World's Poorest” by Celia W. Dugger, in The New York Times. April 29, 2004.

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March 20-30, 2004:

Professor David Sperling visits US, sees World Bank, UNDP, IFC, and Strathmore Alumni.

Professor David Sperling, Chairman of Strathmore University's Governing Council, visited the United States. During his stay he travelled to New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Princeton, NJ, where he conducted Strathmore business and gathered with alumni.

At the UN, World Bank, and IFC, Professor Sperling discussed Strathmore's development plans, which include special initiatives in microfinance, entrepreneurship, and student loans. Other business stops included visits with the Corporate Council on Africa, the Institute of World Politics, and The Special Olympics International.

Professor Sperling was also received by Strathmore Alumni at gatherings in Philadelphia and Washington, DC, hosted by Sumeer Bhullar and Aaron Thegaya. Other participating alumni and friends included Tom Konditi, Colin Franco, Conrad Watola, Brenda Kasigwa, Jerry Yandoli, Leah Bhullar, and Helen McFie (sister of Professor Jim McFie).

Professor Sperling concluded his visit with a stop in Princeton to brief board members of Strathmore University Foundation on the University's plans and progress.

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March 26, 2004:

Strathmore Launches Distance Learning Accounting Courses for Kenyan Prisoners.

Strathmore University, in conjunction with the Kenya Prisons’ Service and Harambee 2002 Committee, will provide accountancy training for Kenyan prison staff and inmates in, leading to the Kenya Accounting Technician Certificate (KATC) and Certified Public Accountants (CPA) qualifications.

Kenya's Vice President, Moody Awori (in red), who also serves as Minister for Home Affairs, officially launched the training, which will be offered through the Distance Learning Center of Strathmore University. The colorful launching ceremony at the Naivasha Maximum Security Prison was also joined by Strathmore University President John Odhiambo, the Commissioner of Prisons, Ministry of Home Affairs officials and other authorities from the University and the Prison’s Service.

Professor Odhiambo congratulated the Vice President and the Government for the positive initiatives they have undertaken to improve the quality of life for prison inmates in our country. “We are indeed happy to be partners in the process of societal transformation,” he said. The Vice Chancellor encouraged other institutions to cooperate so as to make the rehabilitation of prisoners a reality in Kenya.

The program, which has been approved by the Kenya Accountancy and Secretaries National Examination Board (KASNEB), will run for an initial period of two years at an estimated cost of KShs 4 million (€ 43,450). The Harambee 2002 Committee provided funds for the project amounting to Euros 39,105 (90%) percent while Strathmore University contributed the balance of 10 percent (10%) of the total project costs.

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March 24, 2004:

Baroness Lynda Chalker visits Strathmore.

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Former UK Minister for International Development, Baroness Lynda Chalker, paid a visit to Strathmore Univeristy today. She was received by Vice Chancellor John Odhiambo and a small group of senior staff members led by Professor George Njenga. The Baroness, in Kenya for various high level meetings in her capacity at an Advisory Board member of Unilever Ltd. and principal of of Africa Matters, Ltd., learned about Strathmore's development plans. The Baroness also shared views and advice on particular aspects, including distance learning, women's education, business training, and leadership development.

For details about Baroness Chalker's visit to Kenya President Mwai Kibaki, see http://allafrica.com/stories/200403260439.html

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February 28, 2004:

Strathmore participates in Harvard Business School African Business Conference.

Alumni and staff from Strathmore University both were participants in the 6th Annual Harvard Business School African Business Conference, held in Boston, Massachusetts from February 27 to 29, 2004. Entitled "The Way Home: Cultivating Opportunities in Africa", the conference, with over 800 attendees, was organized by the HBS Africa Business Club. One of the Club leaders was Denis Koome Imathiu, a Strathmore graduate and currently a second year MBA student at Harvard. Moderating a panel on large scale investment in Africa was Tom Pyle (at right in right photo), Executive Director of Strathmore University Foundation. Also participating from Kenya were Mr. Titus Naikuni, CEO of Kenya Airways (second photo from left) and Mr. Vimal Shah, CEO, Bidco Refineries, as well as (left photo) Ms. Mary Okelo, Founder, Makini School and Mrs. Susan Mudhune, Chairman, Kenya Commercial Bank.

For further information on the conference, see http://www.hbsafricaconference.org/panels.htm.

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February 24, 2004:

Strathmore becomes first school in Kenya to win ISO 9001 honors.

The Kenyan Bureau of Standards today awarded the prestigious ISO 9001:2000 certification to Strathmore University, the first school in Kenya to qualify for the designation. The certification culminates a rigorous program of measurement, assessment, and determination of world-class management practices, signifying that Strathmore's management practices are among highest standards in the world.

Presenting the official certiicate to Strathmore's Vice Chancellor John Odhiambo, the Honorable J.M. Masila, head of the Kenyan Bureau of Standards, expressed his appreciation for the fact that Strathmore University was the first institution of higher learning to be awarded the ISO 9001:2000 accreditation, thus “… joining a fraternity of over 430,000 organizations in 158 countries who use ISO to ensure quality management." Masila added, "Today marks a historic point for ISO 9001:2000 Certifications in our country; Strathmore University has become the first Institution of Higher Education to be certified to this standard of Quality Excellence in Management Systems.”

The ISO 9001:2000 standard is a measurement of the International Standard Organziation which measures "quality management", namely what an organization does to fulfil:

- customer quality requirements, and
- applicable regulatory requirements, while aiming to
- enhance customer satisfaction, and
- achieve continual improvement of its performance in pursuit of these objectives.

For further information on ISO, see http://www.iso.ch/iso/en/iso9000-14000/index.html.

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January 23, 2004:

World Bank/IFC Webcast Debate on Globalization Features Strathmore's Terry Ryan vs. Former Australian Minister of Education

Strathmore University Board of Trustees Chairman Terry Ryan debated the effects of globalization on international higher education at a World Bank education conference to be simulcast around the world on the internet. His counterpart was former Australian Minister of Education, Mr. John Dawkins. Check out http://home.learningtimes.net/ifc.

Groundbreaking Conference

The debate took place on Friday, January 23, 2004 as part of an inaugural International Investment Forum on Private Higher Education of the World Bank's International Finance Corporation. Focusing on private higher education investment in developing countries, the event will bring together investors, senior managers, and leading professionals from over 50 private sector organizations in 30 countries to address important issues facing higher education. Discussions will focus on how the private sector can strengthen the role it plays in the financing and delivery of good quality higher education in developing economies and the need to share ideas about best practices. For conference details, see http://ifcln1.ifc.org/ifcext/che.nsf/Content/EducationConference.

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Terry Ryan and John Odiambo with IFC Executive Vice President Peter Woicke and USIU's Freida Brown.

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January, 2004:

Strathmore University President, Trustees Chairman to visit USA

President John Odhiambo and Board of Trustees Chairman Terry Ryan visited the United States in January to attend a conference on global private higher education at the International Finance Corporation, the private sector funding arm of The World Bank.

President Odhiambo and Professor Ryan were in Washington, DC from January 17 to 24. In addition to their participation at the conference, they visited the U.S. Agency for International Development, Center for International Private Enterprise, GoodWorks International, The Modern African Fund, LLC, and other Washington-based institutions with interest in Kenya and Africa. They also gathered with Strathmore University alumni in the area.

Strathmore University Foundation

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