Thursday, January 27, 2022

The University of Nairobi set aside Thursday, 27th January 2022 to hold its annual prayer day. This blended event served as a platform to commit the University Community and all planned activities for the year 2022 into God’s hands as well as give thanks to God for his grace and protection.

Students and staff were led into praise and worship sessions by the different religions and denominations present at the prayer day. Various religious texts with messages of hope and encouragement were also read. This was very important given the difficulties the University community and the world is undergoing in the face of COVID-19 and other regional and global challenges.    

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Prof. Julius Ogeng’o in his welcoming remarks quoted Colossians 3:23 

That whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.”

On his part, Sheikh Swaleh Mohammed referenced the Quran, Chapter of Mariam 19 as he encouraged faith and belief, trust, prayer, patience, and righteous deeds as essential in the relationship between human beings and their creator and a good guide through the journey of life. The Catholic Chaplain, Father Kaigua echoed the words of Sheikh Swaleh saying “we have a convergence in our faith, we come from different religious backgrounds but the faith is the same. When I talk about Mary as a Catholic, I would probably share the same story Sheikh Swaleh has talked about.”

While protestant Chaplain, Rev. Hosea Mitei noted that one of the core values of the University of Nairobi is CARE.

“Today God is reminding us of the importance of planning as a caring community. If we are to achieve our desired goals, we have to plan and God will establish those plans.”

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Nairobi, Prof. Stephen G. Kiama closed the prayer day by citing Ephesians 2:10; “The bible says we are God’s workmanship called to do good works, as we begin this year with prayer, I ask that God helps us do good works to fulfill our mandate as a University to provide quality university education and training to embody the aspirations of the Kenyan people through creation, integration, transmission & utilization of knowledge. Further, The Vice-Chancellor said that University will continue the implementation of structural and governance reforms; this year, University will focus on data and people reforms.  He concluded by saying, “We are God’s masterpiece, we are God’s workmanship. We must begin that as a foundation even as we begin the transformation on this people reforms, to first begin with who are we? Who am I?”

Click here to watch the prayer day event