���������������THE 2025 AFRIAK FELLOWS INDUCTION WORKSHOP�KIGALI-RWANDA 30^TH SEPT-11^TH OCT. 2025 ��DATE: 9^th OCTOBER, 2025�FACILITATOR: LUCY MANDILLAH, PHD

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Lucy Mandillah

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MASINDE MULIRO UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

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Motto:The University of Choice

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Lucy Mandillah

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Lucy Mandillah

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Scope of the Presentation

1. About MMUST
1. Establishment
2. Administrative structure
3. Directorates, Schools, Institutes, Centres
4. Programmes

2.About the IIKCSCC

• Establishment
• Areas of Focus
• Activities

3. Pictorial Presentation

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Location of Kakamega/MMUST

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Location of Kakamega County

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About MMUST

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• A public university located in Kakamega, Western part of Kenya.
• Was founded through “Harambee” spirit on 5th January 1972, as Western College of Arts and Applied Sciences (WECO)
• Fully-fledged university in 2007-7^th public Univ. in Kenya
• Has grown to become one of the leading institutions of H.E. in Kenya
• Committed to academic excellence, research, innovation, and commun service.

Vision:

• To be the Premier University in Science, Technology and Innovation.

Mission:

• To provide excellent university education, training and research through integrating science, technology and innovation into quality programmes to suit the needs of a dynamic world.

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Lucy Mandillah

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Administration & Programmes

• The office of the Vice Chancellor: Three DVCs
• Directorates 18; Institutes: 2
• Schools: 11 Academic Schools cutting across disciplines
• Departments:52;
• Campuses : 5
• Study Centres : 3
• Student Population: 25,000
• Academic programs: Over 100 programs
• Certificate and Diploma; Bachelor; TVET Programmes; Postgraduate Diploma; Masters; PhD; Short courses; ODeL

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Organogram

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The Institute of Indigeneous Knowledge, Cultural Studies & Climate Change (IIKCSCC)

• MMUST in line with the University’s Vision and Mission, established the IIKCSCC in October 2020.

Rationale:

• Kenya is diverse Geographically, linguistically and culturally
• Rich and diverse with cultural heritage
• Ranked 58^th in the world and 4^th in Africa with the richest culture and heritage
• Oral traditions; traditional arts and crafts; music & dance; visual arts & crafts; ceremonies; social customs, lifestyles & traditional belief systems; traditional-medicines and practices, agriculture, foods; forest management, conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity e.t.c ss
• Attrition challenge
• Location of MMUST-Western Kenya
• The people of western Kenya at large pride in their rich culture (Tangible & Intangible)

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The IIKCSCC

• The Nabongo Shrine of the Wanga Kingdom Trad. governance system); rich traditional foods (Mrenda -Jute Mallow; Obusuma -Ugali; Ingokho -Traditional Chicken); medicinal herbs (mukombero-Mondia whytei), traditional sports (bull-fighting), music/dance (Isukuti,Kamaveeka), art (pottery) and regalia; the crying stone; Mt. Elgon Caves; The Luhya dialects-Migration and settlement; rites of passage; Dini Ya Musambwa (The Church of Spirits);
• Rich ecosystem: richest and most diverse ecosystems in Kenya — a blend of forests (The Kakamega Tropical Rain Forest), wetlands, rivers, highlands, Lake Victoria basin ecosystems, Agriculture.(Spiritual & ecological roles)
• Outside: Mijikenda Kaya Forests (sacred forest groves/spiritual rituals); Mara; Lamu Old Town (Swahili);Koobi Fora Turkana (Cradle of Mankind-pre-historic Fossils); Traditional authority system-Nchuru Ncheke, Kenyan diverse languages (60-70 living languages)

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�The IIKCSCC

• A multicultural population of staff and students interacting with multicultural local and international communities
• Opportunities for research in matters related to IK/AK and culture
• The Institute is anchored on 3 related Pillars:
• Indigeneous Knowledge
• Culture/Cultural transmission
• Climate Change
• Informed by UNESCO’s Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (LINKS) programme focusing on how Indigenous knowledge can contribute to global sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and resilience.

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10/9/2025

• Four thematic areas in the UNESCO-LINKS (Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems) programme

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• Pillars: IK, Culture & Climate Change

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How IIKCSCC Aligns to LINKS

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�Policy and Legal Frameworks

• The MMUST Strategic Plan; Research Policy; International, Relations and Academic Linkages Policy; Intellectual property rights policy; Institutional Research & Ethics Policy; Gender Mainstreaming Policy
• The IIKCSCC Policy is anchored on the National Policy on Culture and Heritage; Constitution of Kenya 2010 (Arts:11,44 & 69); National Policy on Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources and Traditional Cultural Expressions, (2009)
• Regional & international legal frameworks that promote culture as a pillar for national cohesion and development
• Vision 2030; The Global SDGs; Africa’s Agenda 2063-African Union’s 50-year blueprint for “The Africa We Want,” places IK, CT, and CC resilience at the center of the continent’s long-term transformation.
• The 2003 UNESCO Convention on the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)
• The 1972 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (The World Heritage Convention).
• The Nagoya Protocol-Access-Benefits Sharing

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�Mission & Vision of the Institute

• Vision: Towards Excellence in Indigeneous Knowledge System Research, Innovation and Extension
• Mission: To Promote the Discovery, Conservation, Application and Dissemination of Indigeneous Knowledge and Culture
• Core Values: Collaboration ;Integrity; Inclusivity; Excellence; Human Dignity

Confidentiality; Accountability, Patience

Areas of Focus: Multidisciplinary

• Indigenous Education
• Indigeneous Sustenance of the environment
• Indigenous sports, games and dance
• Indigenous foods, food production, nutrition and food security

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Areas of Focus: Multidisciplinary

Indigenous:

• Religion, Philosophy and Values
• Medicines
• Forms of Communication
• Religion, Philosophy and Values
• African Indigenous languages
• African Oral Traditions-Folklore, Music & Dance
• Architecture and fashion
• Science, Technology & innovation: rainmaking/rain stopping
• History of the communities, tribe, clans places
• Governance, Conflict Resolution & Justice System
• Agriculture & Indigeneous Practices
• Astronomy
• Epistemologies
• Gender and Social Relations

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Activities

• Research, Training and Documentation
• Collaboration and linkages
• Publications
• Short courses
• Conferences, Workshops and Seminars
• Resource mobilization
• Community Outreach
• Cultural Events and festivals
• Public lectures
• Consultancy
• Archiving-Museum
• Popularize cultural sites
• Cultural exchange

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Achievements

• Selection of IIKCSCC as one of the ten Hubs to host the AFRIAK Inaugural Fellows by CODESRIA
• Establishment of the Institute (2020).
• Establishment of the IIKCSCC Committee in 2022
• Development of the IIKCSCC Policy & 2022-2026 Strategic Plan
• Quarterly multidisciplinary Webinars with Academic Schools-IKS
• Collaborations with the IK bearers, organizations, CBOs, NGOs, County & National Governments
• Representation in Conferences, Workshops, webinars, Symposia, public lectures, cultural fairs and exhibitions
• Corporate Social responsibility (Environmental Social Governance-ESG)/Community outreach activities-Planting/lectures of Trees-Kakamega Forests & Mount Elgon.
• A vibrant UNESCO Club
• Research Projects Funded by the MMUST IRF/URF

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Achievements Cont..

• 2025: Documentation of the History of MMUST 1971-2025
• 2024:Indigenous Communication Media for Promoting Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption: Insights from Western Kenya
• 2021:Book Project: Upscaling Indigenous Mechanisms in Delivering Justice Affordably and Efficiently’ In Indigenous African Justice System:
• 2024:Tachoni Male Circumcision Rituals: Navigating Cultural Revitalization, Heritage and Identity through Lexico-Semantic Analysis.
• 2023:Ethnobotanical Assessment of Herbal Medicine Practices for Cancer Treatment among Traditional Medicine Practitioners in Kenya.
• 2023:The Documentation of Traditional Drums of Western Kenya
• 2023: Gender, Pottery, Cultural Taboos and Myths Project
• 2022:Cultural practices resilience in the wake of COVID-19 among communities in Western Kenya.

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Positioning the IIKCSCC into AFRIAK’s Mission

1.Indigeneous Knowledge

• Commitment to document, validate, and mainstream community-based knowledge systems.
• Fellows’ projects— Ethnobotany and herbal medicine; Indigenous pedagogies mirror the Institute’s agenda of co-creation of knowledge with holders.

2. Culture: IK is cultural-It carries memory, identity, and values.

• Cultural studies programmes explore oral traditions, language, spirituality, and creative expressions
• Projects exploring storytelling, music, and fashion as epistemic spaces.

3.Climate Change

• Pillar promotes the use of traditional ecological knowledge in biodiversity conservation, food security, and sustainable Agric & livelihoods.
• Projects: Indigenous agroecology, rainmaking, ecological sustainability, and climate adaptation—

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PICTORIAL PRESENTATIONS�Cultural Resilience Practices in the Wake of Covid 19 among Communities in Western Kenya Project:2022

In Siaya County-Kenya

At the Institute with K.Hs

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�Cultural Resilience Practices Cont…

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Kakamega Jamia Mosque

In Bungoma-KII

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Documentation of the Traditional Drums of Western Kenya2023�

After an FGD

After an In-depth Interview

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�Gender, Pottery, Cultural Taboos and Myths Project: Ileesi�

Female Respondent

Male Respondent

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�Ethnobotanical Assessment of Herbal Medicine Practices for Cancer Treatment Project-2023

KII-The Rift Valley

An FDG-The Rift Valley

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�Ethnobotanical Assessment of Herbal Medicine Practices for Cancer Treatment Project-2023

FGD-Bungoma County

An FDG-Kakamega

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� The 2024 Climate Mobility Academy

Budalang’i-Busia-KII

L. Victoria-Budalang’i-Busia

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�Documentation of the Drums of Western Kenya

At the Bukusu Cul. Centre

At the Bukusu Cul. Centre

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Saboat Trad.Dance -Indig. Biodiversity thro’ Bamboo Afforestation Project in Collab. With Youth for Action in Kenya in Mt. Elgon Forest

Traditional Song

UNESCO Club Launch

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�The 2025 International Mother Languge Day Celebrations

Local Artists

Woman Herbalist Exhibition

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�The 2025 International Mother Languge Day Celebrations

His Royal the Majesty King

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Isukuti-UNESCO Intangible Heritage: Inscrib in (2014)

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� Other Community Engagements

IREN Technol: Nutrition Plate

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Herbal Medicine Exhibition

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Herbalist

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� Other Community Engagements

With Knowl. Holder

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Community Herbalists Post- Covid 19

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At the Maara: Maasai Women

At the Maara

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� Webinars

Webinar 1 :

Webinar 2

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� Webinars

Webinar 3 :

Trad. Food Festival

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� Other Cultural Heritage Sites/Activities in Western Kenya

The Crying Stone

Kakamega Trop Rain Forest

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� Others…………………….

Bull fighting

The Mt. Elgon Caves

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� Others……….

MMUST-Turkana dance

The Tiriki Circumcisio

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Co-creating IK with knowledge holders at the IIKCSCC�

• Acknowledge their intellectual contributions
• Joint research design, data collection, interpretation, and validation.
• Use participatory Methodologies for mutual learning and respect for local epistemologies.
• Invite knowledge holders as facilitators in Workshops/Webinars
• Immersion programs where we learn directly from communities.
• Co-authoring Publications
• Translate findings into community-friendly formats e.g. local language summaries /Vernacular FM Radio
• Involved Knowledge Holders in Strategic Planning
• Dissemination Workshops for Projects
• Establish IK Innovation Hubs within communities (Not yet).

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Co-Creation of IK

Acknowledgement

Conclusion

On behalf of MMUST & the IIKCSCC, I am honored to welcome the inaugural cohort of AFRIAK Fellows to the University of Choice.

• Welcome! English
• Bienvenue ! French
• Karibu sana! Swahili
• Ekaavoo!Yoruba
• MurakazaNeza!KiNyarwanda
• Wamkelekile!Xhosa
• Takulandilani!KiChewa-Malawi

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Questions and Comments

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