Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (http://www.mmust.ac.ke/) was founded through Harambee spirit in 1972, as Western College of Arts and Applied Sciences (WECO) under the stewardship of the former fiery MP, Masinde Muliro. As chairman of the project executive committee, Muliro worked with Prof. Reuben J. Olembo (then Head, Department of Botany University of Nairobi) as secretary. The establishment of the College was in response to the needs of the people of Western province to have a College which would provide a training ground for technical manpower requirements for the province and the nation. The College was also expected to inculcate a sense of self-help and self-reliance among its students and facilitate active participation of youth in national development. The university has evolved from one college to include several centres of excellence including the Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CDMHA), Open Learning and Continuing Education (SOLACE), Science and Technology Park and Industrial Linkages with a vibrant postgraduate training.