Zetech University has established an annual educational excellence award in tribute to the late Godfrey Gitahi Kariuki, widely known as GG Kariuki, the veteran politician and former Laikipia Member of Parliament. This honor acknowledges his significant contributions to the education sector.
According to Vice Chancellor Prof. Njenga Munene, the award will celebrate outstanding achievements in education. It is intended to commemorate the late Dr. Kariuki’s lifelong commitment to promoting learning and community development.
Prof. Munene announced the new initiative during the University’s 9th graduation ceremony held on Friday in Mang’u, Juja sub-county. He stated that through this award, Zetech aims to preserve Dr. Kariuki’s remarkable legacy and encourage future generations to strive for excellence, service, and leadership. The ceremony saw 3,216 graduands conferred with degrees, diplomas, and certificates across various fields of study.
The VC highlighted that the veteran politician left an enduring legacy that positively impacted thousands of Kenyans, particularly within Laikipia County, through his efforts to establish schools and facilitate access to education for local residents.
GG Kariuki, who became Laikipia’s first MP at independence in 1963, was central to the region’s development and is closely associated with its progress and livelihood. He was instrumental in founding schools to ensure his constituents’ children could access formal education. Secondary Schools he helped establish include: Rumuruti, Ngumo Secondary School, Gatero Girls, Mwenje, Njorua, and Njonjo Girls. Primary Schools he assisted in establishing and building include: Rimururuti, Kiguro, and Waigwa Primary.
Furthermore, he played a crucial role in enabling students from his constituency to obtain Commonwealth government scholarships through the Ministry of Education. Dr. Kariuki is also credited with founding craft training centers—including Igwamiti, Rumuruti, Kinamba, and Muthengera—to equip local youths with necessary technical skills to contribute to society.
James Waigwa Kariuki, GG Kariuki’s son, received the honor on his late father’s behalf. He commended the University for recognizing his father’s work and contribution to society, especially in enhancing educational access in Laikipia’s remote areas. Waigwa affirmed that his father not only helped but also donated his own resources, including land, for school construction.
“We have carried on the legacy that my father left over the years and people from Laikipia can relate more with the work and contributions that he made in the society,” Waigwa noted.
Simultaneously, Waigwa urged current leaders and politicians to follow GG Kariuki’s example of total commitment, sacrifice, and high integrity to foster key developments in their respective regions.
He drew a comparison to the past, emphasizing that early leaders, despite receiving a modest salary (around Sh. 6,000) and predating the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), managed to effect significant, life-changing work. In contrast, he stated, modern politicians receive hefty perks and have funds, but often lack the commitment and willingness to work, stressing that leaders must be “people-centered.”
Joseph Njuguna echoed these sentiments, appealing to leaders to concentrate on projects that will improve the livelihoods of Kenyans and advance education nationwide.
