President Uhuru Kenyatta today early in the morning has laid the foundation stone for an ultramodern centre at the University of Nairobi to house the Wangari Mathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies.
Through an official statement, the Institute was said to be the global center for excellence in environmental governance.
“The institute at the UoN Upper Kabete Campus will be a global centre of excellence in environmental governance and its linkages with peace and democracy. The institute aims to create a culture of peace through transformational leadership in environmental governance,” the statement read.
Speaking during the occasion, the President said Wangari Mathai had a vision to “establish such an institute before she died and it was an honour for the University to host the institute.
“Before her death, Wangari had conceived the idea of establishing the Institute and shared the idea with the University leadership and her friends across the World,” said the President adding that the late Professor’s legacy will continue living as he termed her the best role model for all Kenyans who want to contribute to the progress of the country.
“I am encouraged to learn this Institute is already playing a critical role in reducing conflicts in communities by involving women in green energy technology, and in environmental conservation,” Uhuru Kenyatta added.
The construction of the institute, which will cost a total of Sh1.4 billion is being funded by the Government of Kenya and the African Development Bank.
Later, President Kenyatta joined students in one of the lecture halls at the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences and called on them to shun tribalism and to work together as Kenyans to achieve their dreams.
“The most important thing is for each one of you to get a job after graduating and that will not be determined by where you come from,” said the President.
Kenyatta said the youth will not achieve leadership on the basis of ethnicity adding that Jubilee Government has put in place measures to help graduates get employment by creating internship opportunities.