Focus on Students’ Priorities: Vice-Chancellor urges New Student Leaders
The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jesang Hutchinson has called upon the newly elected student leaders to focus on promoting the university ideals in their purview such as academic excellence, student welfare, unity, and purposeful leadership during their term in office.
Speaking when she officially opened the UNSA Student Leaders’ Induction Forum at the KCB Leadership Centre in Karen on Monday 12 May 2025, the Vice-Chancellor urged the 7th UNSA Government to stay true to the relevant legal and institutional frameworks that define their mandate, roles, and responsibilities including the Universities Act, 2012; the UNSA Constitution 2017 (amended in 2021); and the Students’ Code of Conduct.
The induction programme brought together about 90 student leaders for the 2025/2026 period. These student leaders won in the Congress elections held on 24 April 2025 and the Council elections, which took place on 25 April 2025. The team is led by Troy Rasuna, the 7th UNSA President (2025/2026), who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.
Congratulating the student leaders on their victory in what she described as a highly competitive and difficult election, the Vice-Chancellor promised to support the new office bearers to ensure success in serving their fellow students. She further commended the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Dr Kenneth Ombongi for successfully steering the election process.
The Vice-Chancellor gave the inductees some tips towards making meaningful impact during their tenure. “I urge you to begin by conducting a baseline survey on the most pressing student matters. From this, identify and prioritise five key areas to focus on. A one-year leadership term is short, and spreading efforts too thinly across many issues often results in minimal impact”, she said.
The Vice-Chancellor further urged the student leaders to consider reviewing the eight-year old UNSA Constitution so as to make it more relevant and responsive to the evolving needs of the students’ body. “This is a unique opportunity to leave a lasting legacy by strengthening the structures that support student governance for future generations”, she said.
In a speech read on his behalf by Prof. Demesi Mande, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Human Resource and Administration, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Affairs (Acting), Professor Ayub Gitau, also congratulated the student leaders on their victory. The DVC urged them to remain focused on their academic pursuits as they continue to serve in their new leadership roles. “The dual responsibility of academics and leadership can be physically and emotionally draining. I encourage you to seek a balance, and to be champions of mental wellness, digital inclusion, and mentorship programmes” , he said.
The DVC (Academic Affairs) also echoed the Vice-Chancellor’s advice on the importance of discipline, constructive engagement, and dialogue when seeking solutions. “Let your leadership be marked by reason, responsibility, and results. Engage in dialogue, not confrontation. Propose solutions, not complaints. Represent all students, not just your supporters. That is what true leadership entails”, he said.
The Dean of Students, Mr Johnson Kinyua, who also organized the induction forum, took the new leaders through a report prepared by the previous office holders in which they outlined their successes, continuing programmes, challenges, and proposed solutions for future action.
The meeting saw the Faculty Deans and Faculty staff interact with student leaders from their respective faculties to chart the way forward for mutual cooperation. The Central Heads of Department also articulated the relevance of their various functions in student matters and how the student leaders could engage with them in the course of their service and representation.
