Longest serving head of the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication, Hiram Mucheke, has left the institution after 14 years.
In an internal memo dated Wednesday January 18, and seen by Kenyans.co.ke, Mucheke thanked the staff and students for the period he served at the helm of KIMC.
He stated that while in the institute, he had the chance to serve in two positions.
“It has been an honor and privilege leading the institute as the principal from February 20 2009 to August 25 2015 and as director/CEO from August 26 2015 to date,” he noted.
He announced that the serving period had come to an end expressing how happy he was for the time he spent.
“It has now come time for me to proceed on leave pending retirement. I thank you all for your support and encouragement while I have been with you.
To the student community, I treasure the mature way in which we reasoned together whenever there was an issue of concern that needed to be resolved,” he stated.
The soft spoken and media shy administrator acknowledged the leadership nature of the staff and how students were always ready to be served and follow instructions.
“The maturity ensured there was stability in the institute and the students successfully completed their studies without interruption. May the spirit continue.
I am equally indebted to the teaching and non-teaching staff for always going beyond the call of duty in serving the students who are our number one stakeholders. As I proceed on leave, may I assure you of my best wishes always,’ he uttered.
KIMC was established in 1961 and was named as the then Voice of Kenya Training School. It began as an institute of training electronic engineering and technicians for the then, Kenya Broadcasting Service (KBS), that was later rebranded in 1962 as the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).
It later nationalized in 1964, and changed its brand to Voice of Kenya (VOK). In 1965, the new Voice of Kenya acquired a grant to start what became to be known as the Voice of Kenya Training School.
During the 1967/68 financial year the institute was funded to construct mass Media Communication Training institute in South – B Area (Mariakani) and the Institute named Kenya Institute of Mass Communication.
The institute has a radio station, ECN Radio, 99.9 FM, based in school studios, for training radio and broadcast students.
The college offers certificate and diploma courses, in media studies, including Mass Communication, Broadcast Journalism, TV/Radio Production, Film Production and Public Relations among others.
A diploma at the institution takes three years, with a push to have it recognized as a degree. The debate came up after the government through Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) converted KMTC diplomas to University degrees.
KNQA Acting Council Chair CPA Rosemary Njogu lauded the College for the integral role it continues to play in Kenya’s health sector.
“We acknowledge and appreciate the impact that KMTC has had in safeguarding the health of millions of Kenyans and beyond our border,” she stated.
Several media personalities went through KIMC, before launching their careers and rising to fame. They include BBC's Akisa Wandera, Citizen TV's Mwanahamisi Hamadi, NTV's Zainab Ismail, and Fredrick Muitiriri.
Digital Strategist Dennis Itumbi and former Raila Odinga Presidential Campaign Secretariat press secretary, Dennis Onsarigo, currently Nyamira County Chief of Staff went through KIMC.
