Efficiency and Professionalism it is! VC challenges Staff
The Assembly Hall was full to capacity in the afternoon of February 26th 2024. Occasional chit chat and laughter, albeit in hushed tones, dotted the almost still air. Anxiety was pasted on the faces of the staff waiting for the highly publicized consultative meeting with the Vice Chancellor. The high table bespoke the yawning gender disparity in JOOUST’s administrative structures. The VC was sandwiched between her two deputies, Prof. Maina Thuo (PAF) to the right and Prof. Dennis Ochuodho (ASAR) to the left with the Registrar (ASA), Dr. Walter Akuno closing the top four. Immediately behind the high table were Prof. Ang’awa, Prof. Ongati, CPA George Aduda and Mr. Ohanga. Even the union leadership who addressed the gathering were all male namely Dr. Odundo, Mr. Konditi, Mr. Chelule, and Mr. Okaka. Mr. Binaisha did well as the master of ceremony.
When her time to consult with the staff came, save for the initial technical mishap with the echoes produced by the speakers, Prof. Emily Akuno’s speech, delivered in a well measured even tone, revolved around her dream identity of and vision for JOOUST. She equated JOOUST to an adolescent, neither too young nor too old. The analogy presupposes a rather jumpy institution which coincidentally holds a lot of promise. Indeed, the thrust of the VC’s speech was on self reflection and discovery. “You are the most valuable asset to this university, you are the wealth of this great institution.” the Vice Chancellor challenged the staff during her first official meeting with all staff gathered in the university’s Assembly Hall.
During the auspicious occasion, Prof.Akuno invited the staff to consider their worth and live up-to the expected standards. While invoking the university’s vision statement which is a “Beacon of Excellence”, the VC passionately rallied the staff to be efficient and professional in their service delivery. “We will never attain excellence status if we are not efficient and professional in our service delivery,” stamped the Vice Chancellor as she advised members of staff to shun engaging negative energy and mediocrity at the work place.
It is said that a smile is happiness you will find right under your nose. The gem from Gem had it all through her speech though there were moments in her speech when one would have been forgiven for misconstruing it for a sneer or snide especially in her response to issues around witch hunt in staff redeployment or the now famous appreciations. In the same vein, Prof. Thuo reiterated that such allegations were baseless since the top management are all new and would have serious trouble even picking the said victims from a crowd.
Adding their voices to the Vice Chancellor’s speech, the Deputy Vice Chancellors, Prof. Thuo and Prof. Ochuodho pleaded with staff to be more proactive and faithful to their work. Prof. Thuo asked the staff to be conscious of time as they deliver services to their clients. Prof. Ochuodho literaly requested academic staff to do justice to the students by attending to their lessons as required and to honestly fulfill all the teaching processes.
Speaking on behalf of their constituents, union officials applauded the move by the Vice Chancellor to have a discussion with the members of staff in such a manner, terming it an excellent way of giving opportunity for staff to have a direct interaction with the management. They encouraged the VC and the entire management to hold such kind of meetings more regularly, if possible quarterly. They requested for better treatment of staff including paying the 13th salary. The VC, however, tossed the ball back to the professors whom she reminded had the cardinal duty of attracting research funds which will improve the cash flow into the university and in turn enable her fix the 13th salary.
Prof. Akuno has also assured the staff of the management’s commitment to improving the working environment for better performance solely geered towards excellence. In spelling out her administration style, Prof. Akuno intimated that hers will be a synthesis of Prof. George Eshiwani’s human faced leadership and Prof. Francis Aduol’s committees approach having been a keen student of both the magnificent professors. She further challenged the staff to do their honest part to see JOOUST registered on the world map.in her parting shot, the VC said,”I am very ready to interact, share, listen and or discuss with you at any time. I have been able to visit with some of you at your various work stations and I’m still going to come to transport, finance …, please prepare for my visit”
