My Associations in Kenya

Daisy Lanoi C. Lelgut

Summaries of my associations with Egerton University and FOSTEP-K are detailed below.

Egerton University

Egerton University is the oldest institution of higher learning in Kenya. It was founded as a Farm School in 1939 by Lord Maurice Egerton of Tatton, a British national who settled in Kenya in the 1920s. In 1950, the School was upgraded to an Agricultural College offering diploma programs. The Egerton Agricultural College Ordinance was enacted in 1955. In 1979, the Government of Kenya and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded a major expansion of the institution. In 1986, Egerton Agricultural College was gazetted as a constituent college of the University of Nairobi. The following year, 1987, marked the establishment of Egerton University through an Act of Parliament.

It has three Campuses and one Campus College. The main Campus is based at Njoro and houses the Faculties of Agriculture, Arts and Social Sciences, Education and Community Studies, Engineering and Technology, Environment and Resources Development, Science and Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.

Egerton University has made tremendous progress towards increasing access to higher education in Kenya.  

The mandate of the University, as provided by The Universities Act No. 42 of 2012, includes:

·      Advancement of knowledge through teaching, scholarly research and scientific investigation;

·      Promotion of learning in the student body and society generally;

·      Promotion of cultural and social life of society;

·      Support and contribution to the realisation of national economic and social development;

·      Promotion of the highest standards in, and quality of, teaching and research;

·      Education, training and retraining higher level professional, technical and management personnel;

·      Dissemination of the outcomes of the research conducted by the university to the general community;

·      Facilitation of life-long learning through provision of adult and continuing education;

·      Fostering of a capacity for independent critical thinking among its students;

·      Promotion of gender balance and equality of opportunity among students and employees; and

·      Promotion of equalisation for persons with disabilities, minorities and other marginalised groups.

The University has established a series of local and international partnerships and linkages in research, teaching, and industry.

Food Science and Technology Platform of Kenya (FOSTEP-K)

The Food Science and Technology Platform of Kenya is a registered body comprising of young professionals working in food and nutrition related industry / institutions. Its formation was arrived at after long deliberations in a food safety workshop held on 20 August 2010 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The association is anchored in five major pillars / objectives namely:

1.    Encouraging adoption of new technologies;

2.    Advocacy with policy makers, private sector included;

3.    Linkages: creating a network of professionals in the related field;

4.    Capacity building: encouraging personal growth; and

5.    Mentorship: whether formal or informal is required to steer development.

The association is an adhering body to the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFOST).

Ms Daisy Lanoi C. Lelgut is a second year Food Science and Technology Masters student in the Department of Dairy and Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture,  Egerton University, Kenya, and is also Vice Organising Secretary of the Food Science and Technology Platform of Kenya (FOSTEP-K), which is an adhering body to the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFOST); e-mail: daisy.lanoi@gmail.com