Mount Kenya University to unveil new pharmacy courses
Sponsored by Mount Kenya University
By Evans Ongwae
Mount Kenya University (MKU) plans to offer postgraduate programmes in Cosmetic Technology, Industrial pharmacy and Pharmacognosy. The process is at an advanced stage.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Deogratius JAGANYI, says the idea is to prepare pharmacy graduates to contribute more to the growth of Kenya's pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. This is in support of the country’s industrialisation drive.
MKU has continuously reviewed its pharmacy training to ensure graduates are prepared for modern healthcare realities.
Prof JAGANYI says MKU continues to strengthen training in pharmaceutical technology, industrial pharmacy, formulation sciences, quality assurance, pharmaceutical marketing, and pharmaceutical innovation. Students are exposed to pharmaceutical manufacturing processes and industry practices through coursework, educational visits, and industrial attachment.
The MKU VC encourages pharmacists to sustain innovation, continuous professional development, ethical practice, and patient-centred care.
As the world celebrates this year’s pharmacy day, Prof JAGANYI asserts that these aspects are critical as pharmacists seek to effectively respond to society’s evolving healthcare needs.
He salutes pharmacists for their critical role in improving health outcomes and safeguarding patient safety.
“Pharmacists,” he notes, “are no longer confined to dispensing medicines. They are key players in disease prevention, health promotion, medication management, and public health interventions as enshrined in the Pharmacy and Poisons Board’s (PPB’s) Good Pharmacy Practice Standards.”
The VC says MKU remains committed to training skilled pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists who contribute meaningfully to healthcare delivery, research, innovation, and community service. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, MKU remains focused on producing pharmacy professionals equipped to serve Kenya, Africa, and the global community with excellence, integrity, and compassion.
Prof JAGANYI says MKU, aware of the evolution of society’s health needs, has continuously reviewed its pharmacy training to ensure graduates are prepared for modern healthcare realities.
He explains: “Our programmes integrate clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, public health, research, leadership, and emerging digital technologies. Students are trained to critically evaluate healthcare information, embrace innovation, use technology responsibly, and provide evidence-based pharmaceutical care.”
The university’s pharmacy curricula also emphasise disease prevention, management of chronic illnesses, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Through experiential learning in hospitals, community pharmacies, research laboratories, and industry placements, graduates develop the practical skills required to serve increasingly diverse and complex patient populations.
The MKU VC reveals that the university plans to introduce the practice-focused Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) training in the next two years. The aim, he explains, “is to further entrench our training towards a patient-focused approach. This will not only align our pharmacy training towards PPB’s Good Pharmacy Practice Standards but also accommodate the students transitioning to university via the competency-based curriculum framework.”
MKU has a distinguished history in pharmacy education. It was the first private university in Kenya to offer pharmacy programmes.
The MKU School of Pharmacy is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and regulated by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board and has built a strong reputation for academic excellence, innovation, research, and community service.
At the university, students benefit from modern training facilities, experienced local and expatriate faculty, industry linkages, research opportunities, and exposure to real-world healthcare environments. The university also places significant emphasis on leadership, entrepreneurship, and professional ethics.
Prof JAGANYI says MKU pharmacy graduates are trained to play an active role across the healthcare continuum. “Our Bachelor of Pharmacy programme is built around the competencies of the modern pharmacist, producing professionals who are caregivers, communicators, decision-makers, leaders, managers, educators, and lifelong learners,” he explains.
Graduates are equipped to provide medication therapy management, patient counselling, pharmacovigilance, antimicrobial stewardship, preventive healthcare services, and support for patients with chronic diseases. This enables them to work effectively as part of the healthcare team alongside doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in improving patient outcomes.
An MKU Pharmacy graduate combines strong scientific knowledge with practical clinical skills, leadership ability, ethical professionalism, and a passion for community service.
As Prof JAGANYI explains: “Our graduates are adaptable, innovative, and capable of working in multidisciplinary healthcare environments. They are trained not only to respond to current healthcare needs but also to anticipate and address future challenges within the pharmaceutical sector.”
Pharmacy graduates from MKU have diverse career opportunities. They can work in public and private hospitals, community pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, research institutions, in consultancies such as in toxicology, drug rehabilitation centres, regulatory authorities, public health programmes, universities, non-governmental organizations, pharmaceutical sales and marketing, and international health agencies.
For the Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) programme, applicants require a minimum KCSE mean grade of B- (Minus), with at least C+ in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics, and English or Kiswahili.
For the Diploma in Pharmaceutical Technology, applicants require a minimum KCSE mean grade of C (Plain) and a C (Plain) in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics, and English or Kiswahili.
Diploma in Pharmaceutical Technology holders have a career progression path to pursue Bachelor of Pharmacy programme though the upgrading programme.
