As the varsity showcases different aptitude among the learners
By James Wakahiu
A Congolese national, Jaebet Mukela Twite, 24 is the first foreign Mount Kenya University (MKU) student to win the coveted Mr MKU crown after he won the top award last weekend. The student studies Business Management at MKU Main Campus.
“The feeling was unexplainable after being crowned; I couldn’t hold my tears,” Jae, as he is popularly known, cried out in an interview after the events of the gala night. The first runners up went to Tony Blair Onyango while Nixon Masinza settled for 2nd runners up.
Congolese, Jaebet Mukela Twite, 24, displays his stuff during the MKU beauty pageant gala which subsequently won to become the 2021/2022 MR. MKU. He became the first foreign student to win the coveted event. The ceremony was held at MKU main campus grounds in Thika of Kiambu County. It was presided over by Peter Waweru, varsity’s Principal, students’ and alumni affairs. Photo By James Wakahiu.
Pomp and pageantry marked the activities held to celebrate the MKU’s Fifth Cultural Week held in all the institution’s campuses last week. The Culture Week has been running in the university for the last five years and the climax is always the Beauty Pageant, which is a big crowd puller.
The Miss MKU crown was won by Merly Sheila Awour, a Business Management student. Aiyan Abdi emerged the 1st runners up with Mary Mwangi from Journalism and Mass Communication department romped home in the second runners up position.
Jae Mukela Twite and Merly Sheila Awour pose for a photo soon after being crowned as the 2021/2022 MR. & Miss MKU. Photo/James Wakahiu
“The contest was very competitive, well organized – with the exception of the rains, an unavoidable circumstance- and highly dependent on merit. It was also free and fair. All through the training session, I maintained a positive and winning attitude.
Ms Awuor has won other crowns such as Miss Utawala and Miss Untamed Kenya. “Winning Miss MKU was the most fulfilling experience of my entire career in modeling. I thank God for this achievement. Up till now I have not recovered from the joy of this victory,” she said.
Merly Sheila Awour is mobbed by fans after she was declared the 2021/2022 Miss MKU. Photo/James Wakahiu
“We have a well- equipped gym where our students train daily and they are able to showcase their muscles in Mr Flex Competition. We pride ourselves in award-winning choirs and brass bands, among others,” said the varsity’s Principal students’ and alumni affairs, Peter Waweru, who was the chief guest during the closing ceremony held at Thika Main Campus.
Merly Sheila Awour exhibits her beauty out of the podium.Photo/ James Wakahiu
This year’s Culture Week was a long-awaited event by MKU students, especially those who joined the university in 2020 and 2021 as they have never experienced one. Participation in all activities was by all students. “The winner of Mr MKU is a student from Congo. The results show that there is equal participation by all students without any preference. Miss MKU was won by a student in the School of Business,” he said.
MKU’s Peter Waweru, the Principal, students’ and alumni affairs.Photo/James Wakahiu
The different categories being contested for, Mr. and Miss MKU were: Miss MKU Plus size, Mr. MKU and Ms MKU special needs and Mr. MKU Flex. All campuses had the same contests being done concurrently. The beauty pageant was a climax after weeklong activities during the university’s Culture week.
Students showcased different talents, including rap battles, dead weight lifting, dancing competitions, spoken word, playing of different musical instruments and cultural dances and presentations by different communities including by international students. It was a welcome break to the entire student’s fraternity after a period of two years when such an event was last conducted due to Covid-19 related challenges.
Bradocks Onesmus and Lisa Wanjiku celebrate after emerging with Mr. and Miss MKU Nairobi Campus. Photo/James Wakahiu
MKU is committed to supporting, developing and nurturing talents among the students through weekly entertainment. “The university has a vibrant office of Film, Creative and Performing Arts which is tasked with ensuring talents in all arts are supported. Speaking during the closing ceremony of the Cultural Week, Waweru said the institution has realised that students have abundant talents that ought to be exploited.
He thanked the institution’s management for the support they give to their students during such activities, the Office of the Dean of Students and all the Associate Deans of Students (Nairobi, Parklands, Nakuru, Eldoret, Mombasa and Meru campuses) for organising the show-stoppers events across all the campuses and concluding them successfully.
“I also want to congratulate all the models that participated in the event, it wasn’t easy. These people fought very hard, I could say it was worth it and I respect every model that went on the run with me,” added Jae.
In Eldoret Campus, Brian Kimutai was declared MR. MKU while Kong’a Agak scooped the Miss MKU – Eldoret Campus trophy. Bradocks Onesmus emerged the Nairobi campus Mr. MKU with Lisa Wanjiku taking the honor of being the campus’ Miss MKU.
In the MKU Parklands Law Campus, Newton Kiragu became the new Mr. MKU while the Miss MKU title went to Judy Chemitei. Mark Lemaiyan Lenabaala was crowned as Nakuru Campus Mr. MKU with the Miss MKU title falling to Rita Soila Lolkirik. The occasion was among others, graced by dean of students Emmanuel Owuor and his deputy Purity Wairimu.
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