It is hard to believe that the prestigious university in East and Central Africa and south of the Sahara desert, MakerereUniversitycould recognize President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, the person world wide known to have robbed the presidential election victory of his rival Raila Odinga.
On Tuesday January 24th 2012MakerereUniversity concluded its 62nd Graduation Ceremony with the award of an Honorary Doctorate of Laws to Kibaki. Although many freedom fighters and advocates in African consider Kibaki as a benevolent dictator,MakerereUniversity awarded him a doctorate of laws in recognition of his distinguished and outstanding contribution to public service at the national, regional and international levels – especially in the areas of Academic Excellence, Political, Social and Economic reforms.
The ceremony where Kibaki received the award was attended by President Yoweri Museveni ofUganda, whom also some human rights activists call a dictator.
The university leadership applauded Kibaki for what it called his exemplary leadership inKenya. Before Kibaki became president, he worked as a bus conductor for the defunct Othaya Bus Service Company in Kenya and he later joined the Makerere College (now Makerere University) – where he got a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics, History and Political Science.
Kibaki got a first class Bachelor of Arts degree ofMakerereUniversityin 1955. He was elected the Vice Chairman of the Makerere Students Guild (1954-1955). FromMakerereUniversityhe enrolled at the London School of Economics for a Bachelor of Science in Public Finance, and graduated with distinction in 1958.
The president ofKenyaalso sometimes back served as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Economics atMakerereUniversityfrom 1958 to 1960. By Walakira Nyanzi