Baringo locals tell off DP William Ruto over location of new varsity

Kapropita ward MCA Solomon Chemjor flanked by Kapsoo residents addressing the press at Baringo Technical Training College at Kapsoo in Baringo Central on July 29, 2016. They accused Deputy President William Ruto for not consulting local leadership and residents over the location of the yet to be established Baringo university. PHOTO: KIPSANG JOSEPH

Baringo residents have accused Deputy President William Ruto of going against the wishes of the majority on location of proposed Baringo university.

Led by Kapropita MCA Solomon Chemjor, the residents accused the DP and area MP Sammy Mwaita of playing politics with the matter.

Most residents have been lobbying to have the university at Chemeron in Marigat, but the DP, while touring the region last Sunday, said Baringo Technical Training Institute would be turned into a university instead.

"We cannot have leaders who want to do things to prove a point or settle political scores. The will of the majority must be respected," said Mr Chemjor.

The announcement by Ruto was seen by residents as a fight for political supremacy with Baringo Senator Gideon Moi who had announced his support to have the university located in Chemeron.

According to Chemjor, the residents were angered by sudden change of events and that the fate of over 300 students taking technical courses at the institution now hang in the balance.

"This technical college has just picked up and it is helping the residents and now they want to convert it into a university. This will be so unfair to the residents," he said.

According to the MCA, the county assembly had unanimously passed a motion to have the university at Chemeron in Baringo South.

The Standard also has obtained a document signed by county leaders on August 24, 2015, agreeing to have the university set up at Chemeron.

"We, the leaders of Baringo County, having deliberated on the establishment of Baringo University, resolve that it be located in Chemeron," reads the document signed by Governor Benjamin Cheboi, Gideon, Woman Rep Grace Kiptui and Mwaita.

Others who signed the document include William Cheptumo (Baringo North), Asman Kamama (Tiaty), Moses Lesonnet (Eldama Ravine) and Grace Kipchoim (Baringo South).

Mogotio MP Hellen Sambili, who wanted the university set up in her constituency, did not append her signature to the agreement.

Baringo residents condemned the DP for not consulting them on the location of the university.

"The college has been of benefit to the youths in the area, it offers courses for those who haven't qualified for higher learning," said Isaac Kosgei, a local resident.

He further suggested that the university be established on a different ground to avoid misunderstanding.

"I wonder what their interest is. This university can be constructed elsewhere and we have 1,100 acres of land at Chemeron, that should be enough to erect a university, " he added.

Residents accused Mwaita of going further to write a letter to the Ministry of Education requesting the technical college be converted into a university without consulting the constituents.

"It seems the deputy president is using area MP to further his political ambitions in the region," said Chemjor.

Contacted, Mwaita said he consulted local residents before deciding on where the university should be located.

"I met with my constituents and majority opted the university be located at the technical college. We are not going to do away with the technical college but we are upgrading it," said Mwaita.

Locals are now planning a demonstration this Saturday in Marigat, Baringo South, to petition the deputy president to back down and respect their decision.