Dispute rocks location of first ever public varsity in Baringo

Youths tried to disrupt a meeting held at Marigat High School on Sunday to deliberate on the site of the proposed university. Locals want the institution to be built at Chemeron. [Photo: Kipsang Joseph]

Plans to establish the first ever public university in Baringo County is steeped in controversy after local leaders differed over its location.

The dispute has sucked in Deputy President William Ruto, who it is claimed is in support of the project being established in Kabarnet town instead of Chemeron in Marigat Division, which is favoured by many.

Ruto endorsed the establishment of the university in Kabarnet Township when he hosted Rift Valley leaders at his rural home in Sugoi, Uasin Gishu County, a few days to Christmas, a move that has angered some residents.

On Sunday, a meeting in Marigat town called by residents and professionals to deliberate on the DP's "interference" in the project's location almost ended in disarray after a group of rowdy youths engaged in a shouting match.

But members of a steering committee formed to co-ordinate and spearhead the university agenda and professionals from the county supporting the project ejected the youths from the meeting hall at Marigat High School.

During the meeting that was snubbed by local leaders, including Governor Benjamin Cheboi and all the six MPs, it emerged that the Council for University Education and the county assembly had endorsed Chemeron as the preferred site for the project.

According to the committee chairman William Tengecha, minutes of a meeting held by all elected leaders sometimes last year endorsed the decision to have the university located in Chemeron.

"It is clear from the details of minutes of the meeting chaired by Governor Cheboi in his office that all leaders except two MPs (Sammy Mwaita and Moses Lessonet) agreed on Chemeron," he said.

Tengecha, who was accompanied by his secretary Samuel Bungei and Baringo Human Rights activist Kipruto Kimosop, said they were in possession of documents indicating that Egerton University had agreed to donate 300 acres of its Chemeron Field Station to the county government for the project.

The governor, however, has avoided commenting on the issue, instead making it clear that the decision on the location of the university must be one that will be agreed upon by all Baringo residents.