Nairobi, Kenya – 4 August 2025 – Unicaf marked a historic milestone with its first-ever alumni dinner in Kenya, held on 1 August 2025 at the Westlands Banquet Centre. Under the inspiring theme “Your Story, Your Brand: The Audacity of Self-Belief in Personal Branding”, the event brought together alumni, guest speakers, sponsors and Unicaf staff for an evening of celebration, networking and empowerment.
The dinner aimed to establish a vibrant and engaged alumni community, encouraging former students to reconnect, share their academic and professional journeys, and explore opportunities for collaboration. It also sought to inspire alumni to become ambassadors for Unicaf’s mission, fostering partnerships and promoting access to quality higher education.
Celebrating Partnerships and Impact
Sponsors Standard Chartered Bank and Nescafé Kenya expressed their pride in supporting the event. Patrick Macharia, Head of Digital Sales and Portfolio Management at Standard Chartered Bank, commended the fruitful partnership with Unicaf, noting that 33 of their employees have already enrolled in a programme offered by one of Unicaf’s partner universities. Winnie Wandate, Channel Sales Manager – East Africa for Nescafé, praised Unicaf’s role in empowering professionals and communities through education.
Inspiring Alumni to Own Their Narratives
In her opening remarks, Ms Winnie Rachael, Unicaf Country Manager in Kenya, emphasised the importance of building a strong alumni network that serves as an extension of the Unicaf brand. She urged attendees to embrace their journeys and use their stories to inspire others and create new opportunities, while acknowledging the visionary leadership of Unicaf CEO Dr Nicos Nicolaou in transforming lives through the scholarship initiative.
Guest speaker Dr Julian Rowa delivered a powerful session on personal branding, encouraging alumni to harness the power of storytelling to shape their professional identity, position themselves as thought leaders, and drive career growth.
Stories of Transformation
The evening featured moving testimonials from alumni, including:
- Stephanie Mkalama
- Julius Murithi, Communication Lead at Dignitas
- Dr. Ann Monicah, Medical Doctor at Mater Misericordiae Hospital (ICU/HDU)
These stories reflected Unicaf’s transformative impact, from expanding career opportunities to enhancing professional skills and knowledge.
Launching the Unicaf Kenya Alumni Leadership
A democratic election was held to formally establish the Unicaf Kenya Alumni leadership team. Julius Murithi was elected Chairperson, with Stephanie Mkalama as Assistant Chairperson. Both will spearhead alumni engagement activities and work closely with Unicaf to support future initiatives.
Commitment to Lifelong Partnership
Closing the evening, Ms Winnie Rachael expressed heartfelt thanks to the sponsors, attendees, and speakers, reaffirming Unicaf’s dedication to being a lifelong partner in the academic and professional growth of its graduates.