The Mount Kenya University will be marking the World Maritime Day on Thursday, September 26 in style, by receiving accreditation of its MKU Maritime Academy in Malindi, Kilifi County.
Principal Secretary in the State Department of Shipping and Maritime Affairs Kaituko Geoffrey Eyanae will be the chief guest in the event that will be marked with pomp and colour.
The academy will be located in Malindi, a key coastal town in Kenya’s maritime industry as it has a historical link to global seafaring.
Why Malindi?
The institution is specifically located near the iconic Vasco da Gama Pillar, a monument erected by Portuguese explorers way back in 1498.
The Vasco da Gama Pillar stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of maritime exploration and the historic voyages of the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama.
This iconic monument commemorates da Gama’s pioneering journey from Lisbon to India via the Cape of Good Hope (1497-99). His first visit to Malindi, from April 15 to 24, 1498, marked a significant moment in the Age of Discovery, symbolizing the beginning of a new era of global maritime connections.
MKU Maritime Academy, which will be offering state-of-the-art training and educational programs, seeks to build on this rich legacy and provide a safe haven for students seeking a comprehensive, modern maritime education.
PS Eyanae: Gov’t is happy
PS Eyanae is also expected to preside over the award of the accreditation certificate to MKU Maritime Academy by the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA).
In an interview with Daily Nation, PS Eyanae says that the academy will enable more people to train as seafarers, unlocking regional maritime industry in the long run.
“To be competitive in this space, the Government, universities, industry players, and communities must come together to prepare the next generation of maritime professionals,” PS Eyanae says, rallying for a close collaboration among local maritime stakeholders to make the industry competitive.
Practical curricula
According to Mount Kenya University Vice Chancellor Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi, the institution has made significant infrastructural investment and practical curricula for maritime studies.
“MKU has also incorporated a mandatory one-year sea time and industry attachments in the training programme. This real-world experience will expose students to the day-to-day operations of seafaring, from working with advanced automation systems to handling logistics at sea,” says Prof. Jaganyi.
