KCA University is seeking to raise Sh15 million to fund scholarship opportunities for talented, needy students and establish a center for Road Safety and Traffic Injury Surveillance.
The funds are being raised through an annual resource mobilization event by 13 cyclists who are covering 1000 kilometers of cycling in the Western Kenya region.
Speaking at the flag of the 2nd VC& CEO cycling tour at the Masinde Muliro gardens in Kakamega Town, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of KCA University, Prof. Vincent Onywera, said they were cycling to cover 1002 km for a noble cause.
He added that the cycling programme would help them to raise funds to support the needy students at KCA University.
“Through the cycling, we hope to get funds to establish the first research institution in mobility studies and traffic injury surveillance,” said the VC.
“This is the second edition in which we target to help 50 students, which is higher than the first edition, where we assisted 16 students,” he said.
He said the core mandate at KCA University was to catalyze and spur research, innovation, and outreach.
“KCA is sensitizing the community about the benefits of exercise and healthy living by cycling and also walking,” said Prof. Onywera.
“We are looking for financial support to cover the students whose fortune changed in the middle of their education journey, through the loss of a parent or guardian,” added Prof. Damiana Kieti, the Associate Professor in Charge of Finance and Development.
Kakamega County Governor Fernandes Barasa, who flagged off the race, promised to buy bicycles for the University worth Sh500,000 to support the course.
The Governor urged Kenyans to support the cycling project to support KCA University, adding that as a county, they will be supporting KCA on an annual basis.
While speaking at the flagging-off event of the first edition, which took place at the KCA University Main Campus in Ruaraka, Prof. Isaiah I.C. Wakindiki said they were partnering with the Technical University of Dortmund in Germany to set up the Centre for Road Safety Awareness and Traffic Injury Surveillance, which seeks to facilitate the reduction of road carnage in Kenya through research, innovation, and knowledge creation.
We are also collaborating with the road agencies in Kenya, such as the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), to streamline the collection and analysis of road carnage data because this is pivotal in getting to the root causes and ultimately developing solutions through education, advocacy, and policy-making.
“The tour is also sensitising members of the public on safe road usage for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, as well as advocating for a healthy lifestyle,” said Prof. Wakindiki.
The cyclists are expected to cycle via Nakuru, Nandi, Kakamega, Vihiga, Kisumu, Bomet, and Kisii counties, among other counties.
By Manya Hidaya
