Technical University of Mombasa - TUM

21/08/2026

"My journey at TUM started as an Environmental Assistant and later took me through different roles and departments, including the Chair’s Office, Electrical, Science, Library, Applied Sciences and Mechanical Department. Each role exposed me to new experiences, taught me valuable lessons and helped shape the person I am today. But it was my time in the Mechanical Department that planted the idea that would eventually change the direction of my career.

My colleagues encouraged me to consider going back to school and acquire a technical skill. Their words stayed with me and planted a seed that would eventually lead me back to the classroom. I began exploring different technical courses and eventually chose Welding and Fabrication.

In 2016, through a Mombasa County scholarship, I joined NITA to pursue training in Welding and Fabrication. I was not simply looking for another certificate. I wanted to learn a skill that could change the direction of my career and create new possibilities for my future.

After completing my training, I took another bold step. I wrote to the Vice Chancellor requesting a change of role. I was later transferred to the Estates Department, where I began working as a Welder.

Looking back, that moment reminds me of the power of education. I had joined TUM years earlier in one role, but learning gave me the courage and ability to move into a completely different career path within the same institution.

Even after becoming a Welder, I refused to stop learning. While working, I returned to the classroom and pursued a Certificate in Mechanical Engineering. Today, I have my eyes set on pursuing a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering.

For me, education is more than certificates. Education gives you options. It gives you confidence. It prepares you to recognise opportunities when they come.

My journey has taught me that you should never look down on where you start. You may begin in one position, face challenges and take a different path, but with hard work, determination and a willingness to learn, your story can change.

My message to my colleagues and anyone who feels that it is too late to go back to school is simple: education is never a wasted investment. You may not know which door it will open, but every skill you gain gives you another key to unlock your future.

I believe that hard work builds the foundation, but education expands the possibilities. Sometimes, all it takes is the courage to take the next step.

For me, the journey is not over. There is still another classroom to enter, another qualification to earn and, perhaps, another opportunity waiting on the other side."

~James Kalama
Welder, TUM

18/08/2026

Behind every accurate diagnosis is a skilled medical laboratory scientist. 🧪🔬

Discover Medical Laboratory Sciences at TUM and prepare to make a difference in healthcare.

17/08/2026

Today, the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) hosted a stakeholder participation forum on the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) amendment Bill, bringing together stakeholders to deliberate on the proposed legislative framework. In her remarks, the Vice Chancellor highlighted the critical role of universities and TVET institutions in bridging the gap between research and practical, evidence-based policymaking, while encouraging stakeholders across the Coast region to actively engage with the proposed amendments and submit their views.

Opening the forum, Prof. Paul Wachana, Chairman of the KIPPRA Board of Directors, emphasised that the public participation process provided an opportunity for Kenyans and stakeholders to interrogate the proposed amendments, identify gaps and unintended consequences, and make recommendations towards a stronger legal and institutional framework for KIPPRA. He noted that the process was ultimately about shaping an institution capable of responding to Kenya’s evolving public policy and research needs.

The forum also provided members of the public and other stakeholders with a platform to ask questions, seek clarification, share their perspectives and make recommendations on the proposed amendments. The views and contributions shared during the engagement will form part of the stakeholder participation process and help inform further consideration of the proposed legislative framework.

17/08/2026

The Directorate of Career Services, led by Director Dr. Juliana Asser, engaged students at Gaikundo Secondary School in Mukurwe-ini, Nyeri, during a career guidance and mentorship session.

The session provided an opportunity for students to explore career pathways, ask questions and gain insights to help them make informed decisions about their future. The team was met with enthusiastic participation from the students, alongside positive feedback from teachers and parents.

Through such engagements, TUM continues to support young people in making informed choices and preparing for a successful future.

17/08/2026

Don’t just dream about the life you want. Make time to build it.

15/08/2026

Young innovators have been challenged to play an active role in shaping Africa’s future as the East Africa Code Festival 2026 concluded at the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) today.

Speaking during the awards ceremony, Hon. Jonathan Mueke CBS, Principal Secretary, State Department for Livestock Development and Patron, iSkillsMasters Global, challenged the young innovators not to simply be spectators of the future, but to become architects of what lies beyond Kenya’s Vision 2030.

The PS urged the learners to dream beyond their classrooms, build rather than simply consume, develop solutions to African challenges and ensure that their innovations contribute to environmental sustainability. He also encouraged them to think globally, use technology meaningfully and create opportunities rather than wait for employment.

He reminded the learners that they are not too young to build Africa, address climate challenges or contribute to writing Kenya’s story beyond 2030, urging them to take the ideas and skills developed at the festival to the next level...

Read more:

https://tum.ac.ke/news/read?id=TN2608088&headline=young-innovators-challenged-to-build-africa%E2%80%99s-future-as-east-africa-code-festival-concludes-at-tum

14/08/2026

14/08/2026

"Born into the Giriama community of the Mijikenda, I grew up with a deep love for education and a strong belief that it could change my life. My journey, however, has not been without challenges, and at one point, family circumstances and financial difficulties forced me to put my own education on hold so that my younger siblings could continue with theirs.

As the firstborn, I took on the responsibility of supporting my family, helping to raise my siblings, manage the home and find different ways of earning an income. I plaited hair, sold viazi karai, worked as a housemaid and took on whatever opportunities were available to help my family.

A turning point came when a friend gave up an opportunity at Travellers Beach Hotel so that I could take it, knowing the difficult circumstances I was facing. I started on a modest stipend, progressed to an internship and eventually became a permanent Front Office Cashier. I made a commitment that every salary I earned and every tip I received from guests would contribute towards my education.

Inspired by my late father, who worked as an accountant and sacrificed to educate his children, I decided to pursue the Certified Public Accountant qualification. Balancing long working hours with my studies was not easy, and I often had to pay my tuition fees from my salary while negotiating with the college whenever I had not cleared my fees. Despite these challenges, I completed all six CPA sections and became a CPA-K.

My CPA qualification opened the door to a Bachelor of Business Management, Accounting Option, which I completed in two years after receiving exemptions. I later pursued a Master’s degree, because I had come to believe that learning should never stop regardless of how difficult the journey becomes.

While pursuing my Master’s, I saw an advertisement for a position at the Technical University of Mombasa and decided to apply. I remember walking into the interview room and seeing highly qualified candidates, which made me briefly question whether I belonged there, but I reminded myself that every challenge I had overcome had prepared me for opportunities such as this one.

I was successful, and joining TUM became an important turning point in my career. Today, I serve as the Accountant in Charge of Budget, overseeing one of the University’s critical financial functions, and I deeply value the confidence that the University leadership has placed in me. I am especially grateful to the Vice Chancellor for her support and for being a role model to me as a woman.

Beyond my professional responsibilities, I have had the privilege of serving as a staff union leader for two terms, having been elected unopposed for my second term. I see leadership as an opportunity to serve others, listen to their concerns and contribute towards creating fairness for every member.

My academic journey is still unfolding, as I am currently pursuing a PhD with the hope of becoming one of the first women in my family and among the few women from my community to attain the qualification.

More than anything, I want my journey to encourage girls from humble backgrounds to believe that difficult circumstances do not have to determine the course of their lives. I hope to return to my community and tell every girl who believes that poverty or family challenges have ended her dreams that they have not, because education remains one of the most powerful tools for changing lives.

Looking back, I have learnt that every obstacle can become a lesson and every setback can strengthen your resolve. My journey has taught me that your background does not have to determine your future, and that with faith, discipline, hard work and a commitment to keep learning, even the biggest dreams can become possible."

~Ruth Dama
Accountant in Charge of Budget, TUM

13/08/2026

Join us live for the East Africa Code Festival 2026! 🚀

Come witness greatness as our young innovators take the stage, showcase their coding and robotics skills, and bring their ideas to life. 🌍💻🤖

🔴 Watch live: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1D2NzQ7c8H/

11/08/2026

More than a competition, it’s a space to learn, create and connect. 💻🤖

At the East Africa Code Festival 2026, young learners will get hands-on experience in coding, robotics and AI, engage with tech professionals and university faculty, and collaborate with fellow innovators from across East Africa.

A new generation of tech talent is getting ready to take the stage. 🌍