Moi rallies leaders to support location of university at Marigat

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi joins Marigat women in a dance during the opening of Transnational Bank, Marigat branch, on Friday. [PHOTO: KIPSANG JOSEPH/Standard]

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi has called on the county leadership to stop wrangling over the location of a public university.

The senator said the county needed a public university to boost the region’s access to education, and called on leaders to support its location at Chemeron in Marigat sub-county.

“Thousands of acres at Chemeron should not be put to waste. It’s also important to consider expanding infrastructure development at the technical institute for the sake of future generations,” he said.

The construction of the university has not started two years down the line due to wrangles among leaders and residents over its location.

A section of leaders led by Baringo Central MP Sammy Mwaita have been fighting to have it located at Kapsoo in Baringo Central, while most residents want it located at Chemeron, where more than 1,000 acres have been set aside for the project.

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Mr Mwaita wants Baringo Technical Institute converted into a county university, which has not gone down well with majority of the residents who feel the move will spell doom to technical training for students, who are not able to proceed to university.

Gideon’s remarks echoed the will of the residents, who have for two years fought hard to have the construction of the university start while the county government led by Governor Ben Cheboi has been mum on the matter.

According to community steering committee chairman William Tengecha, wrangles have stood in the way of the locals’ dream of having a university in the region.

“We have been pushing for its establishment but the leaders have not shown any commitment to our cause,” he said.

He said the committee was in possession of documents indicating that Egerton University had agreed to donate another 300 acres of its land at the Chemeron Field Station to the county government for the project.

Kanu nominated MCA Charles Kamuren said there was enough land in Baringo South, and asked leaders not to push away such a project, which has the potential to transform the area.

The dispute has also sucked in Deputy President William Ruto.