Nyamira University College will admit its first cohort of students despite lingering pessimism from some critics of the institution. The assurance was given on Sunday by Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Ogamba while he toured Ikonge town to inspect its possible connectivity to the Standard Gauge Railway.
The CS was in the region ahead of a major announcement expected from the President regarding infrastructure and education projects in Gusii.
According to CS Ogamba, the establishment of the university faced early resistance from a section of local leaders who disagreed over its location. After months of lobbying and debate, consensus was finally reached to build the institution at Kiabonyoru Secondary School in Borabu/North Mugirango Constituency. The groundbreaking ceremony had already been conducted on 24th October 2025, with the Kenya Defence Forces tasked to oversee construction to guarantee quality and timely completion.
The CS stressed that Nyamira University is critical for the county’s future. For the first time, students from Nyamira will access public university education without traveling to Kisii, Kericho, or Eldoret, cutting down the cost of accommodation and transport for poor rural families. The university is designed to offer skills-based programmes tailored to local needs, including agriculture, ICT, education, health sciences, and business. This will directly support key economic activities in the region such as tea farming, dairy, and youth entrepreneurship.
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Beyond academics, the institution is expected to transform Kiabonyoru, Ikonge, and surrounding towns. The influx of students and staff will spur growth in housing, transport, and small businesses, creating jobs for residents. Ogamba also noted that the university will serve as a research hub for Gusii culture, climate-smart farming, and public health challenges unique to the region. He urged leaders and residents to put aside divisive politics and support the project, saying education is the greatest equalizer.
While construction is ongoing with a target to open in September 2026 as a constituent college of Kisii University, a hearing on the opposition of the University’s start was stopped from court as CS remains sanguine about the success of establishing the University because all legal and regulatory steps had been accomplished.
By Enock Okong’o
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