National Assembly Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso tells off Governor Isaac Ruto over university saga

Joyce Laboso

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso (pictured) has asked Governor Isaac Ruto to allow the county's first university to be constructed in Bomet town.

Ms Labaso accused the governor of having a history of blocking worthwhile projects in the county leading to wastage of large amounts of money; a trend she said must not be allowed to continue.

"The governor has a history of blocking worthwhile projects. A few years ago, he sparked off a huge battle on whether Chepalungu constituency district headquarters was to be located at Sigor or Siongiroi. At the end of it, a lot of money was wasted on a foundation project for the then proposed headquarters at Siongiroi," she said.

Laboso said this time round, the governor should understand local leaders are not out for political contest.

"Residents are tired of the governor's theatrics and daily drama, for once he must give us a break and focus on development by allowing construction of the university to begin immediately," she said.

MONEY NEEDED

She reminded Ruto that the Sh500 million pledged by the Government to go toward construction of the university, is urgently required within the local economy.

"Everybody knows the importance of a university because besides providing knowledge, the establishment of a universality within Bomet town is going to fast track its development and offer employment to many people especially the youths," she said.

The deputy speaker asked the governor to "calm down" since the Government had been clear that three universities would be constructed in the county including at Sigor where Ruto had been fighting for Moi University to be located.

"The president was very clear that three universities would be constructed in the county. Therefore, the governor should calm down and let Moi University to begin construction in Bomet town since Sigor would also boast of a university campus as he wishes," said Laboso.

She further dismissed Ruto's claims that he would not allow takeover of the land since it was meant to be a stadium and his administration had spent over Sh100 million on the project.

"The money the governor is talking about is not his personal money but public funds. The university would not even destroy the stadium since it would also need it as a playground for the student's games and as a graduation square," she said.

The deputy speaker made the remarks at Mabwaita village in her Sotik constituency during the handover of Mabwaita dispensary to the county government constructed through CDF.

Kapletundo Ward Rep Bernard Ngeno said the assembly would pass a motion for the university to be constructed within Bomet town.