Dr Emmanuel Okenwa-Vincent
Dean School of Health Sciences
Kaimosi Friends University (KAFU) is one of the few institutions of Higher learning in western Kenya hosting a school with very unique and attractive health and life science programmes as its flagship school. At the moment the School of Health Sciences (SoHS) at KAFU is only the second in Kenya with an Optometry programme at various levels up to a PhD, including upgrade programmes for those with prior learnings at diploma level from recognized institutions by KAFU senate. The School also houses programmes in Nursing, and Clinical Medicine up to post graduate levels.
As a young and vibrant school which was recently establish in 2022, the school looks to being a regional hub and centre of excellence in training for health science programmes like environmental health, oral health, pharmacy, basic medical sciences like anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry, amongst other life sciences and technologies. The school also looks to housing top class health professionals who are industrial bests, as well as partnering with industries, county governments, hospitals, and other non-governmental institutions and individuals towards promoting excellence in health education in east and central Africa.
As we know, the country is currently faced with the challenge of paucity of well-trained health professionals often occasioned by both insufficient training institutions and the effects of brain drain. KAFU is strategically positioned to supporting its SoHS in bridging this gap in manpower development for health through commitment to industrial collaborations, supporting innovative ideas, and linkages that will grow the school to an enviable status within a short period of 5 years.
The SoHS at KAFU is committed to building an academic environment that fosters intellectual freedom, scholarly teaching, distinction in research and scholarship, diversity in cultural integration in practical and clinical learning, and in community service, and services to humanity in a collaborative manner, that is sustainable in a social, and culturally dynamic environment. In other to achieve this goals, it is our hope that everyone, institutions and individuals alike, with like minds to supporting health workers’ training and community support in a manner that efficient and effective, will come on board and join KAFU-SoHS in growing this vision of establishing a regional hub and centre of excellence in health care workers’ training in Kenya. KAFU-SoHS is committed and focused to educating health care professionals who can meet the demands of an ever growing and dynamic health care systems and bridging the huge gap in manpower for health care delivery in east and central Africa.
CURRENT PROGRAMMES IN SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES
- Bachelor of Optometry and Vision Sciences (BOptom)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Bachelor Clinical Medicine and Community Health (BSc)
Department of Nursing
Department of Nursing is domiciled within the School of Health Sciences and offers a rigorous and dynamic Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) programme. The department was launched March 2021, as one of the departments in the School of Science and has quickly established itself as a Centre of excellence in Nursing sciences.
Students benefit from a blend of classroom instruction and hands on training made possible through strategic partnership with several Hospitals among them the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, Kisumu County Referral Hospital, Busia County Referral Hospital, KenyanNurse Consultancies among others with formalized MOUs. This collaboration enhances clinical placements and joint research opportunities for both students and staff as well as job prospects for our students.
The Department actively organizes community and professional events that emphasize community outreach and professional growth with activities such as wellness screenings, health education for school learners, campus clean-ups, and tree planting—underlining holistic student development and social responsibility.
Situated on a serene environment within the historic Kaimosi Complex, the university environment supports immersive learning and well-being. The Department benefits from KAFU’s broader institutional commitment competency development through diverse learner engagement and support. The BScN programme is among the most competitive in KUCCPS admissions reflecting its strong demand and with robust academic teaching, community-linked service, and strategic health partnerships, the Nursing Department at KAFU stands as a leading destination for nursing education in Kenya and Beyond
Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences
About the department is under development
Department of Clinical Medicine and Community Health
About the department is under development
OUR CHAIRS OF DEPARTMENTS
Dr. Anne A. Okanga - Chair, Department of Nursing
Dr. Cyprian Mabonga - Chair, Department of Clinical Medicine
FACULTY/ACADEMIC STAFF
Dr. Emmanuel E. Okenwa - Senior Lecturer
Dr. Anne A. Okanga - Lecturer
Dr. Cyprian Mabonga - Lecturer
Ms. Lilian Isiaho - Assiatnt Lectuirer
Mr. Joseph Musungu - Assiatant Lecturer
Ms. Sarah Makongo - Assiatnt Lecturer
KEY AREAS OF POSSIBLE COLLABORATION TO BUILD THE SOHES
- Staff mobility/exchange
- Students mobility/exchange
- Co-curricular development
- Mentorship in research and development
- Research grants support/collaborative research
- Collaborative postgraduate students supervision and mentorship
- Community outreaches and screening
- Equipment support and donations
- Ideas incubation and support
- Centre for cancer and sickle cell care
- Mental health and rehabilitation centre
- 3 D printer for spectacle lenses