Ruto revives plans for Nyamira university

President William Ruto. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

President William Ruto has ordered Nyamira county government to initiate plans to establish a public university.

The dream of setting up the university died about six years ago after leaders failed to agree on the ideal location of the institution.

Plans to establish the university between 2015 and 2017 flopped after some elected leaders started pulling apart over the proposal to take over a secondary school in North Mugirango constituency, while others suggested starting the university from scratch at Riakimai where the government has huge public land.

Leaders abandoned the plans after more than Sh200 million had been used to do feasibility tours by the University of Eldoret.

The institution that had been proposed for takeover is yet to fully recover on enrollment of students following uncertainty over its future.

Governor Amos Nyaribo said the President’s blessing included an advisory to pick on an institution, which has more than 25 acres of land.

“We cannot afford to start from scratch, and going by the President’s word, we will start the university in an institution which already exists and has enough land for expansion. From there, we shall pick up its programs under a parent university,” Nyaribo said.

The governor revealed that the county entered into a deal with Kisii University, which will parent the dream for a while before it finally picks up on its own.

“Kisii University has agreed to start us up as an affiliate campus from where we shall have our chatter after picking up the desired momentum,” he said.