Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology Council led by the Chairman of the Council, Prof. Shem Wandiga, hosted university staff for a luncheon at the University’s main campus. The luncheon offered an opportunity for the recently appointed Council to interact and familiarize themselves with university staff.

While addressing the congregation, the Ag. Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Bosire, appreciated the Council's commitment to addressing issues that affect the University. He urged members of staff to be at the forefront in championing excellent service delivery to its main clients, the students. “We have to deliver on our mandate and serve our students who are the main customers with utmost excellence.” Prof. Bosire used the time to thank the Council for allowing such a moment to share with the staff and also thanked the staff for showing a good gesture by honouring the invitation by the Council. He boasted of JOOUST's prowess in research that has put it on the world map. 

Prof. Shem Wandiga noted that the University was in a state of transition after the exit of the former Vice-Chancellor Professor Stephen Agong’, and part of the University Council. He re-emphasized the president’s remarks on the importance of performance contracting and service delivery stating that Institutions and indeed public servants will be held to account for how they deliver on their mandate. “Let us endeavour to perform, the best way we can in order to grow this university to greater heights,” said Professor Wandiga.

Professor Wandiga emphasized university reforms, urging staff members to familiarize themselves with the reforms so that they are not caught off guard. He encouraged academic staff members to ensure that they identify and assist the least able students for government funding opportunities. He also encouraged the entire university fraternity to make every possible effort to make the University attractive to both local and international students through developing marketable programmes and fundable research proposals.

The University Council was able to tour various university projects at different stages of development and promised to prioritize which ones will be completed first to increase student tuition space.

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology has maintained her sterling performance at the ASK Kisumu Regional Show with committing signs of not dropping any soon. This has been witnessed in the just concluded ASK Kisumu Regional Show 2023 that ran between 24^th -30^th July 2023 where JOOUST has been crowned The Best Stand that Interprets Show Theme  through Education and / or Research, Best Organization/Association in Community Projects /Services Stand and The Best University Stand.

The University showcased Research projects and Innovations that resonated well with this year’s show theme: Promoting Climate Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiatives for Sustainable Development. The University entered into six (6) Trade Exhibition classes namely: The Best Stand that Interpret the Current Show theme; The Best University Stand; The Best Stand in Research and Development; The Best Innovation and Invention Stand; The Best Organization/Association in Community Projects/Service Stand; The Best Stand Demonstrating the Application of Environmental Quality Standards.

Apart from leading in the three fore-mentioned categories, the University also emerged 2^nd position under the category; The Best Stand Demonstrating the Application of Environmental Quality Standards, and third position under the category of The Best Innovation and Invention Stand and The Best Stand in Research and Development. 

Exhibits that drew the attention of the public at JOOUST Stand included the Innovation on 1.) Seed dispensing robot with smartphone control (Seedbot) whis is an automated android based smart farming assistant designed to enhance seed dispensation via remote control from the comfort of an android. The device navigates through terrain dispensing seeds at intervals of 30 cm spacing automatically and manually, a project presented by the School of Biological and Physical, Mathematics and Actuarial Sciences. 2.) Flocponic Technology; a technology that integrates biofloc-based aquaculture with an aquaponic system. It is an integrated agri-aquaculture system that combines the beneficial fungi, bacteria, planktons, aquatic animal and vegetable productions. The Flocponic systems maximizes the advantages of biofloc technology (BFT) and traditional aquaponics using recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), just to mention but a few.

JOOUST has kept high its performance at the ASK Kisumu Show since 2012 when it stamped its authority in research and innovation on its first appearance, aging out bigger and then seasoned research institutions and institutions of higher learning.   

The JOOUST VLIR-IUC Sub-project III on Building Capacity for Research, Management and Control of Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases in the Lake Victoria Basin embarked on a two-day workshop on Data collection tools validation between 13th-14th July, 2023 held at in Kisumu at the Kisumu Hotel.

The workshop was officially opened by the Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Student Affairs and Research, Prof. Denis Ochuodho who is also the Local coordinator of the Project. While giving his remarks, Prof. Ochuodho thanked members for their immense commitment towards steering the project indicating the need to identify the key areas of the University interest at this initial stage such as academic programmes enriching the University's research base. He also commended the team for indulging key departments, urging on the importance of visibility as a requisite for maximum impact through progress and success stories. In closing, Prof. Ochuodho challenged the team to consider community practices such as mining and its health implications, adding that sub-projects I and III can work together to find a solution for this.

The team comprised of the Project lead Dr. Jane Owenga, Dean, School of Health Sciences Prof. George Ayodo, Dean, School of Informatics and Innovative Systems, Prof. Solomon Ogara and key project members including three PhD students that have been sponsored by the Project to conduct research. The purpose of the baseline survey is to establish the starting point for monitoring and evaluating the impact of the Project. The students who later made a consolidated presentation of their tools, were taken through the baseline survey and validation tools that built a base for the discussions. The tools to be used include Informed consent forms, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) -Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) Form, Focus Group Discussions (FGD) Guide, KAP Primary Health Care Provider, Caseload Data Abstraction Tools, Client exit Interview, and Health Facility (HF) background survey.

The sampling will be undertaken in the entire project transects including Kisumu, Siaya, Homabay and Uasin Gishu Counties starting from the County Referral Facilities (level 5), to the community facilities. Some of the Sub-Counties to be surveyed include Alego, Ugunja and Kisumu Central where sampling will be in thirty facilities within the respective levels. So far, consent from the relevant county and health authorities has been granted for the prevalent areas namely Kisumu and Siaya Counties. Various cadre of respondents shall be interviewed including nurses, doctors, clinicians, support staff and Focus Group Discussions (FDG) totaling to 315 health workers with an additional selection of 379 clients. The piloting is to be done in Homabay Town and Karachuonyo Sub-counties of Homa bay County

JOOUST VLIR-IUC Project has its objectives spread across ten to twelve years with the mid-term objectives spanning fives years. Part og the long term objectives include coming up with policies for capacity building.

Sub-project III aims to build capacity for early stage researchers and mid-career professionals for Cervical Cancer, liver cancer, Type 2 Diabetes and HPT through short courses, post-graduate training and post- doctoral programmes; To estimate prevalence of Cervical Cancer, liver cancer, Diabetes II and Hypertension in Lake Victoria Basin; To establish state of the art research laboratory for Cervical Cancer, liver cancer, Diabetes II and Hypertension; To establish a registry for monitoring targeted Non-Communicable diseases (Cervical Cancer, Liver Cancer, Diabetes II and Hypertension) and To establish a Nursing and midwifery programme.

So far, the Sub project has recieved a donation of research laboratory equipment from Belgium giving the project a headstart on its long term goal of acquiring research equipment and infrastucture.

The founding and out-going Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stephen Gaya Agong’ officially handed over instruments of leadership to the in-coming Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Bosire after a successful completion of his tenure.

While acknowledging the change of guard, the University also welcomed the newly appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Planning, Administration and Finance, Professor Aggrey Thuo. Professor Denis Ochuodho has also been appointed Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs, overseeing Division of Research, Innovation and Outreach.

While noting the change of guard, the Chairman of Council, Prof. Shem Wandiga thanked the out-going Vice-Chancellor for the steadfast and exemplary leadership demonstrated during his tenure. He thanked Prof. Agong’ for having laid down the foundation upon which JOOUST stands on. “On behalf of the University Council, may I take this opportunity to congratulate Professor Stephen Agong’ for the tremendous work and great foundation that he laid for JOOUST. I am glad to see how far this University has come from a humble University College with very few students and infrastructure to a fully-fledged University that is to reckon with within the Region.” Said Professor Wandiga.

The in-coming acting Vice Chancellor Professor Joseph Bosire praised the out-going Vice-Chancellor, Professor Agong’ for his servant leadership to the University. He promised that he will work with the entire university fraternity to ensure that the University lives up to its vision of becoming a global leader in university education and research

Professor Stephen Agong’ term comes to an end after having served as the founding Principal of the then Bondo University College and later Vice -Chancellor when he led the University to full Charter status in 2013.

Among notable achievements that have been realized under his tenure include; gross increase in student numbers, recruitment of staff to support student welfare, expanded tuition space and improved research capacity and extension services. Of particular recognition is the operationalization of the World Bank supported African Centre of Excellence for Sustainable use of Insects as Food and Feeds (INSEFOODS), Global Pii Institute and successful bidding of two main grants towards, a) Strengthening of natural resources, food security and health with the support of VLIR; b) Provision of technical support for health service delivery in partnership with four counties supported by USAID among other milestones.