Tharaka University (TUN) Vice Chancellor/CEO, Prof. Peter K. Muriungi, PhD, had the honor of hosting the Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner, Mr. David K. Gitonga, who paid a courtesy call to his office alongside other county officials ahead of a Multi-Stakeholder Consultative Forum organized by TUN in partnership with Sodzo Kenya under the theme, “Building Partnerships for Community-Led Transformation and Sustainable Development.” The forum is aimed at strengthening partnerships for community-led transformation and sustainable development across Tharaka Nithi County.
The high-level engagement brought together representatives from the County Government, academia, development partners, and community leaders to deliberate on a shared roadmap for the implementation of the Flourishing Communities Model (FCM) across the county.
Speaking during the forum, Prof. Muriungi reaffirmed Tharaka University’s commitment to utilizing research, innovation, and strategic partnerships to address societal challenges and improve the livelihoods of local communities. He noted that the University remains steadfast in its mission of extending its impact beyond academia through meaningful community engagement initiatives.
The consultative forum provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss sustainable solutions to interconnected challenges affecting communities, including poverty, food insecurity, family instability, unemployment, gender inequality, mental health concerns, child protection issues, and climate-related shocks.
The engagement follows the successful Flourishing Communities Model Master Class hosted at Tharaka University, which culminated in the establishment of the Flourishing Communities Model Centre (FCMC) at the institution. The Centre is envisioned as a hub for research, innovation, training, and policy engagement geared towards promoting resilient families and flourishing communities.
Key objectives of the forum included sharing progress and strategic milestones achieved since the Master Class, inducting stakeholders into the operations of the Flourishing Communities Model Centre, strengthening stakeholder ownership, and collaboratively developing a county-wide roadmap to guide the implementation and future scaling of the model across Tharaka Nithi County.
The day’s programme featured stakeholder presentations and engagement sessions, a guided tour of the Flourishing Communities Model Centre, networking opportunities, and discussions aimed at fostering collaboration and ensuring the successful adoption of the model throughout the county.
The forum marks yet another milestone in Tharaka University’s growing portfolio of community engagement initiatives and underscores its role as a catalyst for sustainable development. Through partnerships and collective action, the University and its stakeholders are laying the foundation for transformative and lasting change across Tharaka Nithi County.
