In the early 20th century, the British colonial government went to great lengths to develop robust transport and communication systems in Kenya. Because it relied on these systems to efficiently run the colony, substantial investments went into instituting railway, harbour, airway, and postal services. While postal services already existed, dating back to the 17th century when the Portuguese ruled over Mombasa, the system experienced rapid development during British rule. During this time, the Kenya-Uganda railway hastened the delivery of mail, and the two world wars increased demand for correspondence through letters and telegrams.
After the end of World War II, the East Africa Post and Telecommunications Cooperation (EAP&TC) was established as a self-financing institution with a growing workforce. EAP&TC needed workers who were trained in postal and telecommunication management to maintain its streamlined operations. In 1948, Central Training School arose to meet this demand. As the name suggests, the school served as a training facility for all categories of its staff.
The Rise and Fall of Central Training School
Central Training School’s campus sat in Mbagathi, 16 kilometres outside of Nairobi. It boasted residential accommodation for 270 students and 40 staff members. Its 36 classrooms fully equipped classrooms featured engineering equipment, a post and sorting office, a telephone switchboard, and typewriters for practical learning. So popular was the school that it received over 3,000 applications. It even had to turn away about 90 percent of the applicants due to limited vacancies. By 1966, the school was reportedly training approximately 1,600 learners annually, with those who could not secure the available boarding facilities renting houses in the nearby Ongata Rongai township. Because of its location right next to Nairobi National Park, various forms of wildlife frequently visited the school. These included baboons, warthogs, and the occasional big cat that escaped the park!
The role of Central Training School and the existence of the East African Community had an intrinsic link. This body administered a range of public services in the region, including those offered by EAP&TC. In 1977, separate political policies and different rates of economic growth of the three EAC members – Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika – led to the collapse of the East African Community. As a result, EAP&TC was dissolved as each nation established its own postal service. Management of Central Training School was taken over by the Kenya Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (KP&TC) and solely began training Kenyan postal workers. In 1992, the school took on the name Kenya College of Communications Technology (KCCT).
Democratizing Learning
In the 1990s, significant changes swept the global telecommunication industry. Efforts spearheaded by the Universal Postal Union to delink postal services from telecommunications resulted in the spilt of KP&TC in 1998. The Postal Corporation of Kenya and Telkom Kenya became two independent entities. Following this liberalization, KCCT opened its doors to learners who did not work for either of the institutions.
In 2008, KCCT registered as a constituent college of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). KCCT operated independently but drew its academic policies from JKUAT as its constituent college,. The college was well on its way to becoming a university. In preparation for this milestone, it became Multimedia University of Kenya. In 2013, it became a fully-fledged public university owned by the Kenyan government.
Multimedia University of Kenya
Multimedia University of Kenya comprises six faculties, with the largest being media and communications – a testament to its roots. The university pays tribute to its past with a museum located on the premises. The museum showcases the machinery used for practical learning in the university’s early days. Students continue to coexist with wildlife that roams the campus. They know to remain ever-cautious that food can be snatched away without a moment’s notice!
Are you an alumnus of this university? During which period did you attend? Comment below and share your experiences with baboons and warthogs at the institution.
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