Kenyatta University (KU) nominated President Uhuru Kenyatta's sister Kristina Wambui Pratt for the conferment of the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causal).
According to a notice, KU nominated Pratt to receive that distinguished honour for her contribution and commitment to serving people living with various disabilities.
Defending the decision to award Pratt, KU explained that her contribution to the sector had been immense, spanning more than forty years.
"Her dedication to serve people living with disabilities saw her travel all over the country scouting for children with special needs," read the notice.
Her inspirational vision and devotion has been a source of courage and transformation to many in Kenya and beyond," it added.
According to the University, Pratt has travelled to different destinations while helping People Living with Disabilities which even compelled former US President Jimmy Carter to honour her with United States Presidential Award in 1980.
Her conferment is set to be held on Friday, July 22, when the institution will be holding its 51st graduation ceremony.
The late president Daniel Arap Moi appointed her to Chair the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya in January 2002. Uhuru's elder sister has stayed at the body's helm to date.
Pratt's contributions to National Fund for the Disabled Kenyans include lobbying for the allocation of over Ksh370 million that has helped different groups of PLWDs.
Uhuru's elder sister also serves as a Board member of Kambui School for the Deaf, Jacaranda School for the Mentally Handicapped, Kenya Society for the Blind and Thika School for the Blind.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from Kutztown State University and a Master of Science degree in Educational Psychology from Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, USA.
Pratt joined the Ministry of Education in 1975, where she became the founding Director of the Department of Special Education before later playing a major role in establishing the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE).
The institute was responsible for training teachers from different colleges in special needs education, conducting research, performing functional assessments, and rehabilitating and producing assistive materials for people with special needs.
"It is for this reason that in 1977, she was appointed UNESCO Ambassador for the Visually Impaired in Africa. In 1979, Mrs. Pratt also received the Kenya Society for the Mentally Handicapped Award for her outstanding contribution to the mentally handicapped in Kenya," stated the notice.
Her conferment comes amidst controversy regarding the Head of State and KU Vice Chancellor Prof Paul Wainaina, who told staff that he was being forced to resign for failing to cede land for a project launched by Uhuru.
The VC maintained that KU had plans for the land which Uhuru wanted to give to the World Health Organization to build the Ksh600 million emergency hub for its regional operations.
