President Uhuru Kenyatta has been voted Africa’s President of the year 2014-2015 for his outstanding leadership.
The Head of State was picked for the prestigious Africa Education and Leadership Awards for his ability to build consensus locally and abroad and his efforts to change policies for the better and supervise solutions that address Kenya’s pressing issues.
Thousands of university students from institutions of higher learning in Africa also recognised President Kenyatta for initiating progressive economic programmes aimed at uplifting the lives of Kenyans.
The students, who are members of the All-Africa Students Union (AASU), presented President Kenyatta with the award, which, among other things, celebrates “outstanding leadership and educational excellence”.
The AASU is based in Accra, Ghana.
PROTEST
AASU student leaders, drawn from 12 local universities, presented the award to the President at State House in Nairobi.
They were led by AASU East African representative Lone Felix of Kenyatta University.
They were accompanied by Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi , PS Belio Kipsang and a team from the Kenya Private Sector Alliance.
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda is a previous recipient of the award.
The President said it was important for students to engage the Education ministry when they have issues instead of taking to the streets to protest.
“You should engage the ministry (of Education) in a more constructive manner without going to the streets and throwing stones”, the President told the student leaders, who also told the Head of State they needed more funding from the Higher Education Loans Board.
The President instructed Prof Kaimenyi and head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua to explore how the students can be funded to hold the next AASU summit in Nairobi later in the year.
He said it is necessary to establish more incubation centres where students can nurture their skills and develop their innovative ideas.
President Kenyatta said he was excited by incubation centres where young people are developing products and exploring economic opportunities.
