MMU team led by Chairman of Council Dr. Albert Kochei (fifth right) together with a delegation from NaMATA led by Director of Projects and Programmes Dr. John Githui (fourth right) during a meeting at the university to discuss the signing of an MoU on research and capacity building on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
Multimedia University of Kenya (MMU) and Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NaMATA) are seeking to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will see the two institutions undertake capacity building for stakeholders within the public transport ecosystem, conduct transport research, and carry out road safety sensitization workshops.
The MoU will also see mentorship of students through attachment and internships, development of strategic short course on public transport, tailor-made to empower key stakeholders in the sector with soft skills such as communication, customer care and leadership.
From left: NaMATA Director of Projects and Programmes Dr. John Githui, Senior Risk Management Officer Esther Gathu, MMU Chairman of Council Dr. Albert Kochei, Ag. Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Research and Innovation Prof. Livingstone Ngoo and Deputy Director of Policy, Research and Strategy Dr. Dominic Omboto during a meeting at the university to discuss the signing of an MoU on research and capacity building on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
Speaking at the university during a meeting between the two institutions, MMU Chairman of Council Dr. Albert Kochei said that the MoU targets public transport within Nairobi and its key stakeholders, with a view of carrying out a capacity building program aimed at improving the overall service delivery in the sector.
“Through our Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Media and Communication, and Computing and Information Technology, we want to see how can do capacity building through training to key stakeholders, we also want to do public transport research through our students and lecturers,” said Dr. Kochei.
MMU Chairman of Council Dr. Albert Kochei shakes hands with NaMATA Director of Projects and Programmes Dr. John Githui during a meeting at the university to discuss the signing of an MoU on research and capacity building on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
“We also want to engage in road transport safety sensitization, public transport policy development, and mentorship of students through attachment and internships,” adds Dr. Kochei.
NaMATA Director of Projects and Programmes Dr. John Githui who was also accompanied by Deputy Director, of Policy, Research and Strategy Dr. Dominic Omboto, and Senior Risk Management Officer Esther Gathu, said that the MMU and NaMATA will work together through the MoU to develop short courses on public transport to empower stakeholders with soft skills.
On public transport research, MMU Faculty of Social Sciences Senior Lecturer Dr. Gladys Nyachieo was among the top researchers honored with Outstanding Researcher Awards (NORA) at the inaugural National Research Fund (NRF) Festival 2024, for the various transport-related research work that included a study on the investigation into the Health Costs of Motorcycle Crashes in Nairobi, Kenya, funded by FIA Foundation & Transaid, a study on Governance Processes in Promoting Walking for Sustainable Urban Mobility in Kisii (Kenya) and Mzuzu (Malawi) and other research work.
Also present at the meeting were Ag. Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Research and Innovation Prof. Livingstone Ngoo, Associate Dean, Faculty of Media and Communication Prof. Wilson Ugangu, Dean, Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences Dr. Jonathan Maweu, Ag. Registrar, Research and Innovation, and Head of Department—Film and Broadcast Ms.Vivian Pambo, and Legal Officer Mr. Wilson Kagwe.