The University of Nairobi proudly announced Dr. John Obiero as the Best Teacher Overall during the Annual Staff Recognition Awards Ceremony held on Monday, November 27th, 2023. The ceremony was a testament to the collective efforts, hard work, dedication, and excellence demonstrated by the university's staff. Dr. Obiero is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Environmental and Biosystems Engineering. He has over 25 years of experience in research, teaching, consultancy, community engagement, and postgraduate supervision. Dr. Obiero's expertise lies in hydrology and water resources engineering, focusing specifically on watershed modeling. He has conducted extensive research in this area and has published over 30 papers in referred journals and book chapters. In addition to his research accomplishments, Dr. Obiero is also a dedicated teacher who has taught and examined many subjects at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in various universities in Kenya and overseas.

The Faculty of Engineering also garnered notable recognition for its outstanding achievements. Within the Faculty Category, it secured the 6th position out of 10. In the Teaching Departments Category, 61 departments were evaluated. Remarkably, the faculty's departments consistently attained high rankings, with the Department of Environmental and Biosystems Engineering leading the way at position 9. Following closely behind, the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering secured the 10th position, while the Department of Geospatial and Space Technology achieved an impressive 11th position. This commendable performance underscores the Faculty of Engineering's commitment to excellence across its diverse departments.

The event featured the signing of the Performance Contract for the Financial Year 2023/2024, highlighting the university's dedication to continuous improvement. Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, Chair of Council, stressed the importance of teamwork, stating, "Teamwork and harmony are vital to our success. We must work collectively towards a shared vision."

Vice Chancellor Prof. Stephen Kiama emphasized the role of performance contracting in streamlining management and operations, noting its effectiveness in driving efficiency across the institution. He explained, "The introduction of performance contracting in Kenya aimed to establish performance measurements, clarify corporate objectives, embrace customer orientation, & foster a focus on productivity & cost reduction to enhance service delivery."

Mr. Brian Ouma, Chief Operations Officer, highlighted the extension of performance contracting to individual staff appraisal, emphasizing the periodic assessment of employees' job performance against university competencies.

The ceremony marked the culmination of a year of outstanding performance by UoN staff, with all faculties achieving a "Very Good" grade. Prof. Kiama commended the commitment to excellence in service delivery.

The University extended congratulations to all staff members, recognizing their contributions to quality education and training. The annual staff performance recognition award ceremony stands as a testament to the university's dedication to acknowledging and rewarding excellence.

Watch the livestream of the event here.