Prof. Mutua at D.C.

“Women are humble and do not promote themselves,” said Professor Makau Mutua, Dean of the Law School, State University of New York (SUNY) in Buffalo, New York, as he spoke at the Kenya Diaspora Conference held in Washington D.C. “Women should be aggressive in academia field if they want to progress,” added the professor who also said, “Universities in Kenya are not well run,” as he spoke on the Plenary Session: Kenya Diaspora Success in America: Helping/Positioning Self to Help Kenya –What it takes and on the topic of successes in the Academia. The other speakers were Attorney Japheth Matemu of Matemu Law Office (NY) who talked on the “Role of Immigration in Promoting Competitiveness in Kenya.” U.S. based businessman, David Karangu who talked on “What it takes to succeed in business in U.S.A and how this success can be transferred to Kenya.” Dr. Isaya Okwiya, Calvert Memorial Hospital and Shore Health/University of Maryland Medical Systems talked on “Successes in the Health Sector.” The Moderator was Prof. Francis Koti of the University of North Alabama

In his remarks Professor Mutua noted that the America University system is second to none in the world saying , “The American universities operate with a lot of freedom in which an academic can flourish.” On advice to academics who would like to explore careers in the U.S.  he said, “Choose the best institution you can get in your field and based on your qualifications. Choose a field you like and do not live other people’s dreams.”

Professor Mutua who also writes an opinion column for Nation noted, “Scholars and academics who would like to succeed must be persons seduced by ideas, and should find professors who will mentor them. If you are aspiring to join the field of academia, enroll in a school that produces academics like Harvard or Yale, write and publish like crazy, write in the best journals and do not antagonize your seniors.”

To women he advised that humbleness is a negative and women should not be humble but should promote themselves. To the academics he advised that they can create ways to explore exchange programs with universities in Kenya and be involved in giving advice to universities in Kenya which he said are not well run today.