The core purpose of 2,000-seater Mwai Kibaki Convention Centre is to support educational activities, says Mount Kenya University (MKU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Deogratius JAGANYI.

“In this regard, this facility is expected to host local, regional and international conferences, conventions and summits,” he says. “The facility will also be open for corporate events and meetings,” he adds. The VC further says the university also looks forward to hosting drama and music festivals and even presidential debates in the near future. “As MKU, we are seeking to differentiate our offering to the market to ensure our students and other primary stakeholders get value,” says Prof JAGANYI.

The university is seeking ways to diversify revenue streams to support its core business of teaching and research, guided by initiatives that are also complementing its core mandate. The convention centre will house, among others, conferencing facilities with the largest and most modern equipment.

Lately, the university has been hosting large international research conferences and conventions. The facility will also be used for training purposes, especially for the School of Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Management, the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, among others. It will also host a media centre with TV and radio station, says the VC.

Mwai Kibaki Convention Centre, billed as the largest conference facility north of Nairobi, is fully air-conditioned and sound-proofed for echo free communication. It is equipped with the latest technologies in audio-visual live streaming. The centre’s epoxy floor is aimed at minimising noise and accidents. Further, it has a highly raised stage with a 360-degree view from all sitting angles.

The centre is fitted with lifts to ease movement, and has dedicated sound control rooms and multiple washrooms. It has natural roof lighting, a VIP lounge, and green fields for team building moments. The centre features a unique architecture that includes three-tier decks for holding 2,000 participants.

It has seminar break-away rooms with a capacity of 40 participants each and multiple board rooms. It is crowned with plenty parking slots and dedicated gates.