- Kisii University has announced plans for a 19-storey student accommodation tower under the government’s affordable housing programme, expected to become the tallest building in the region.
- Vice Chancellor Prof Nathan Ogechi said the project will ease pressure on existing housing as the university has admitted about 7,000 students for the current academic year.
- The student village is expected to significantly increase the university’s bed capacity and reduce students’ reliance on private rental housing.
Kisii University is set to expand its accommodation capacity through the construction of a 19-storey student village as the institution seeks to keep pace with its growing population.
The high-rise facility is being developed under the Government’s affordable housing programme and is expected to provide additional accommodation for students within the university.
Vice Chancellor Prof Nathan Ogechi said the project would help address the pressure on existing accommodation facilities as more students join the institution.
Speaking during the university’s matriculation ceremony for newly admitted students on Tuesday, Prof Ogechi said the development would also change the skyline of Kisii town.
“This is a Government project being done under the ongoing affordable housing programme and when completed, it will be the tallest building in this region,” Prof Ogechi said.
The university has admitted about 7,000 students for the current academic year, increasing demand for accommodation both within and outside the institution.
Prof Ogechi said expanding accommodation was necessary to ensure students have a suitable environment in which to pursue their studies.
“We are growing, and as we grow, we must ensure that our infrastructure grows with us. Accommodation is an important part of creating a conducive environment for learning,” he said.
A significant number of students currently rely on private rental houses outside the university, a situation the new development is expected to ease.
The Vice Chancellor said the university wanted students to focus on academic work rather than face difficulties securing safe and decent housing.
“We want our students to have decent and secure accommodation. They should come to university to learn, undertake research and develop themselves, not to struggle with where they will sleep,” he said.
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The student village was initially proposed during the tenure of former Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, who is also a former Member of Parliament for Kisii County.
Once completed, the 19-storey building is expected to substantially increase the university’s bed capacity and become one of the most prominent structures in Kisii town.
The project is part of wider efforts by the university to improve infrastructure and cater for an expanding student population.
Prof Ogechi also urged the new students to take advantage of the opportunities offered by higher education and remain focused on their studies.
“You have come here to acquire knowledge and skills that will shape your future. Take your studies seriously, respect one another and make use of the opportunities available to you,” he told the students.
He said the university would continue prioritising investments in facilities supporting teaching, research, learning and student welfare.
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The development is expected to have an impact beyond student accommodation, with the proposed tower likely to become a notable feature of Kisii’s changing urban landscape.
For the university, the project comes at a time when institutions of higher learning are under pressure to expand facilities in line with rising student numbers and growing demand for affordable accommodation.
By Jonathan Mwinzi
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