On 5 February 2026, the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences celebrated the pioneer cohort of its intensive Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Certification programme at a special luncheon. The modest event formally launched this new professional pathway and commissioned its first qualified practitioners. This short course is part of the Executive Development Education programs.
The three-month, practice-oriented course, offered by the Department of Management Science and Project Planning, awards a professional certification designed to meet direct market needs. This inaugural cohort represents the University's strategic shift toward demand-driven training for the development, public, and private sectors.
For Prof. Kennedy Ogollah, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, the moment called for something more than applause. He named the graduates what he believes they must now become: ‘ambassadors. “This certificate you’re getting today is not just a piece of paper; it is not a certificate of participation but a Certificate of Merit” he told them. “It should change how you work. It should change your life.”
His vision extended beyond the event. Prof. Ogollah urged the cohort to return as facilitators for future classes and revealed plans to offer more fully accredited courses, complete with advanced levels. Monitoring, he reminded them, may follow universal principles, but it's true test lies in application. “The faculty isn't just turning out graduates; we are building a Community of Practice."
Dr. Salome Richu, Chair of the Department of Management Science and Project Planning, engaged the guests in an interactive session, where participants shared their backgrounds and how they planned to apply the course. The mood, already light, soared as she led an impromptu song and dance; a moment that perfectly captured the human connection at the core of this technical field.
Dr. Ruchu’s advice was disarmingly practical. For the facilitators, she noted, “the more you teach, the more you ground it.” For the graduates, the instruction was to infuse their industry experience back into their practice. “This course is a life skill,” she reminded them. “Apply it in real-life situations.” She even shared some quirky, unforgettable tips to cement life-long learning: try writing with your left hand, read reports aloud, or simply watch cartoons to see simplicity in action.
Dr. Antony Ndungu, the course coordinator, took everyone on a quick journey through the programme’s history. But his most potent points were about the future. In a world where “data is the new oil,” he stressed the critical need to use that data for smart decision-making. He celebrated the diverse backgrounds in the room -doctors, accountants, engineers- proving that M&E is, at its heart, a multi-sectoral life skill.
When the students took the floor, the feedback was practical and grounded. These were people already working in the trenches, Program Managers, Project Officers, and Consultants. They talked about the "Community of Practice" they had built over the last three months. They weren't just learning from textbooks; they were learning from each other’s real-life project failures and successes. There’s already a massive appetite for what comes next. Many students mentioned they are looking forward to a deep dive into Data Analysis and Visualization.
As the luncheon wound down, the feeling was unmistakable. The session Moderator, Dr. Reuben Kikwatha, assured everyone in the room that this wasn’t an ending. It was the activation of a community of practice. The University of Nairobi hasn’t just trained a group in MEL; it has sparked a network of professionals equipped to ask the hard questions, to measure what matters, and to learn from every result. For program managers, NGO staff, government officials, and consultants looking to not just do work, but to understand the impact of their work, the path is now clear. The pioneers have been commissioned.
About the Course:
This 3-month Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Accreditation Course is designed to equip development professionals with a practical and comprehensive skill set: results-driven MEL systems, Data Management, and the use of AI tools in MEL processes.
How to apply: The course is coordinated by the Department of Management Science and Project Planning.
application Forms: https://forms.gle/MTzxjpd3Z2tMHAmEA
Registration deadline: Friday, 20/02/2026
Start date: 2/03/2026
End date: 16/05/2026
Registration ongoing
Course fee: KES 95000 / USD 730
Both physical and virtual options available
For further details or to start your application, please contact:
- Telephone: +254 722 272 527 or +254 725 623 761
- Email Address: mel.uon@uonbi.ac.ke
