The International Open University Vice Chancellor, Prof Makie Taal arrived in Mombasa safely, on Saturday 18 July 2026, accompanied by the IOU Kenya Country Rep, Br Theophil Kipoma. The people of Mombasa are very supportive of IOU and accorded the VC a wonderful welcome.

The first item in the Mombasa schedule was to launch the Muslim Education and Welfare Association (MEWA)/ IOU Exam Center. The IOU VC gave a speech at the MEWA/ IOU Exam Center and marked the occasion by cutting a cake.

Present were the Chairman of MEWA, Br Abdulaziz Khamis, Chairman of the Council of Imams and Muslim Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), and Kenya's former Ambassador to Oman, Sh. Mohamed Dor, MEWA CEO, Eptisam Hussein, MEWA Chairman of Education Board, Br Bwanaheri, former IOU Mombasa Rep, Kassim Ahmed, among others.

The IOU VC promised to support a strong collaboration between IOU and MEWA that would bring positive transformational changes and exponential growth of student enrollment in the whole of the Kenya Coastal region.

Pic: The IOU VC Prof. Makie Taal gave a public lecture which was streamed online at Masjid Baluchi, Mombasa on Saturday 18 July 2026 after Maghrib prayers. Seen here with mosque officials, IOU alumni and current students who attended the lecture.