The University of Nairobi was originally conceived as an independent external college of the University of London, my alma mater, but became a university in its own right in 1970. The only institution of higher learning in Kenya for a long time, the University of Nairobi responded to a great national, regional and continent-wide demand for skilled manpower by developing a flexible and diversified programs in the fundamental and applied sciences, engineering, the humanities, social sciences and the arts. Successful graduating from an institution of higher learning like the University of Nairobi is recognized as a great personal achievement in Kenyan society and, hence, is celebrated with friends and family. Watching the Autumn graduation ceremonies, it reminded me of my own graduation from Purdue and LSE eons ago.
