UoN Press Launches Prof. Francis Gichaga’s Autobiography
The UoN Press launched Prof. Francis John Gichaga’s autobiography on Monday 21 November, 2011 in a colourful occassion formalized by the Minister for Roads, Mr. Franklin Bett ,at the Vice Chancellor’s Parlor ,University of Nairobi.
The book titled “ Surviving the Academic Arena: My Complex Journey to the Top” is about the life and times of the author during his life and most critically while at the helm of leadership at the University of Nairobi at the time when the country was transitioning into a multiparty democracy.
The book describes in detail the student and staff protests that the author had to endure while introducing module II programmes and discusses some of the intrigues he went through as he steered the University, at a very delicate time on the country’s political front.
During the Launch Prof. Gichaga said that he wrote the book to give his life history and more so to show how he climbed the academic ladder and the very trying experiences he went through.
While officially launching the book, Hon. Bett congratulated Prof. Gichaga for putting his experiences as a Vice-chancellor in writing saying that this would serve as a useful reference for universities.
On his part, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George Magoha, praised his predecessor, for creating module II programmes at UoN ,which have become the most reliable revenue stream for the University ,as government capitation dwindles , while at the same time extending higher education to more Kenyans.
View and Order from University Press Website
Minister for Roads, Franklin Bett, Launches Prof. Francis's Gichaga's book. Surviving the Academic Arena, My Journey to the Apex.
Anonymous wrote:
Just to put record straight,acadamecians like Prof Gichaga have contrbuted enormously towards engineering profession and it is only fair to allow such people on their twilight moment to tell us how bumpy the road can be despite having credentials.
Anonymous wrote:
this has been here for quite a while....the space needs something else
Anonymous wrote:
good work prof!!
Anonymous wrote:
While I welcome Prof Francis Gichaga for putting his thoughts and experience in black and white for the public to read, I would have loved if he could go further to write a book for students on the subject he taught, instead of choosing to embark on autobiography that every Dick, Tom and Harry can do.
Autobiography is of course is good, but I would rather say, they should be left to the likes of Kuria Kanyingi, Shariff Nassir, Njenga Karume etc – who did not have any formal education but made it in life. That success is what people would like to read.
As a person who cherishes academics, my challenge to those who think education is important is that they must not just show it by teaching alone, but must also strive to put their knowledge into books for the posterity.
Often I do visit the Library and bookshops to see what’s new in the shelves and the surprise I get is that No lecturer worth the salt has come out to write books. More so on technical subjects such as chemistry, physics, biochemistry, management etc.
However, what I come across are books imported from abroad, which has no local examples, thus becoming difficult for students to grasp. Interestingly at times, the so called books which are claimed to have been authored by Kenyans are just photocopies
No wonder Prof Bethwel Ogot doubts the credibility of students, who are being awarded PhDs today saying they are not better than masters’ students.
Real professors are known in three main areas research, teaching and publication. If in teaching, there is nothing for the professors to show other than just churning half baked graduates, what else are they counter for? This is my challenge? Thanks Zachary Ochuodho
Anonymous wrote:
For those of us who had an oppourtunity to sit in Prof. F J Gichaga's class, this book is interesting reading. It is an opportunity to find out the other side of this great academic.
Prof. Gichaga has published widely and I do not think there is anyone with as much research in the area of geotechnical engineering as the Prof. His great works of research are available at the Uninersity of Nairobi. Make enquiries at The Jomo Kenyatta Memorial Library or at the Deparment of Civil Engineering.
Anonymous wrote:
I do agree with this writer to some extend. It is worth noting that professors should be able to write books in the subject of their expertise. The only challenge is the fact that most of professors in public colleges in developing countries tend to fix their eyes on the ultimate prize, VC, Director of State own Corporation, Permanent Secretary, etc, due to better pay and the extra monetary benefits that come with such positions of responsibility, and thus, do not put more effort in writing books in their field of knowledge. Besides, take Structural engineering, or Geo-technical engineering, Quantum Physics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, for instance, these among other subjects, require additional effort and collaboration with other subject matter experts in order to write good course book on vis-a-vis an autobiography.
Unlike the technical course books, an autobiography is easier to write (if you keep a daily journal, it's even better), besides, if written by a successful authority of Prof Gichaga's stature, it will attract wider readership beyond the academia.
We are living in a world full of hardworking people in pursuit of success in life. Let every successful person tell the rest of the us how they got their.