Proposed Hekima University(PHU)

In a ground-breaking collaboration for regional education advancement, the proposed Hekima University (pHU) Directorate representatives convened with USAID officers at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School on Friday, 10^th November 2023. Facilitated by Fr. Terry Charlton, SJ, and the school’s management, the meeting welcomed a delegation of USAID East Africa officers led by Ms. Azara Turaki, USAID Global Development Officer and Portfolio Manager of American Schools and Hospital Abroad (ASHA) – overseeing construction awards for hospitals, schools, and libraries, head-quartered in Washington D.C.

Commencing with a presentation from St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School, spotlighting their ongoing dormitory project, the focus then shifted to Hekima University. Fr. Francis Rodrigues, SJ, and Francis Ogutu delivered a comprehensive overview of pHU vision and milestones. Fr. Rodrigues delved into a historical context, narrating the 25-year journey from the conception of the idea of a Jesuit university in Eastern Africa to the recent approval from Rome to establish the proposed Hekima University (pHU). He addressed fundamental questions on the necessity of another university in Kenya, space availability, and the institution’s financial sustainability. The generous act of Most Rev. Arch Bishop Maurice Muhatia, providing 75 acres of land in Molo, Nakuru, was highlighted, along with Kenya’s strategic importance as the eastern African Jesuit headquarters. Fr. Rodrigues also detailed ongoing efforts to secure funding for the university’s construction.