This archive report was first published on 27 April 2020.
On May 8, 2020, the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT) will make history by hosting Kenya's first virtual graduation ceremony, a move that has sparked mixed reactions from students and staff.
According to Vice Chancellor Prof Ndirangu Kioni, the decision to hold a virtual graduation was made in response to requests from students who wanted to receive their certificates as soon as possible. “The students requested for the graduation ceremony because they wanted their certificates so that they can move on with their lives,” he said.
With the country under a ban on public gatherings due to Covid-19, the university has taken the bold step of organizing a virtual event that will see 1,777 students graduate in its 9th ceremony. The ceremony will be held in the university's main hall, but with a twist - only 15 key personnel, including the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, and members of Senate, will be present. The rest of the staff will stay in their offices and read out the names of the graduating students.
Prof Kioni emphasized that the virtual graduation will be a brief ceremony, lasting only a short time, and will be streamed online for students to catch from anywhere. The university has advised graduands to download their e-invitation cards from the student portal and follow the live event from wherever they will be.
However, not all students are pleased with the decision to hold a virtual graduation. Some graduands have taken to social media to express their opposition, questioning the rush to award certificates at a time when the pandemic has shut the economy. Hurbert Murende, a graduand, said, “a virtual graduation is like being ripped off something that you are worth, it feels like watching a graduation on YouTube, which makes no sense.”
