The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agricultural Technology (JKUAT), the only institution that had been billed to quench the education thirst of Trans Nzoia County residents, has shut its doors.
The Ruiru-based University branch which struggled to survive after other local high learning institutions in the county collapsed finally called it a day recently, leaving the residents to seek university education outside the area.
The residents will now have to travel to the neighbouring counties to enroll for university studies in institutions like Kibabii in Bungoma, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) in Kakamega and Moi University in Uasin Gishu County
The JKUAT constituent college had been offering diploma and degree courses before folding up, the move the management described as normal procedure of restructuring for sustainability.
However inside sources have indicated that the university had been forced to leave Kitale town due to low enrollment, high cost of operations and competition from the sprouting of the ICT institutions.
It is reported that at the time of closure, the college had less than 150 students and the management had complained of high rent at the former Robinson Academy facilities where they had rescheduled from the town centre. The low enrollment was being blamed on high fees, poor environment, unpopular courses and lack of training facilities.
ALSO READ:
School leadership awash with people lacking emotional intelligence, TSC should clean this up
The questions are now lingering on the success of the already two proposed university colleges within the county, after the giant JKUAT Kitale branch closed due to the alleged low enrollment and cost of operations.
The County Government under Governor George Natembeya had partnered with the Nigerian NGO Bell’s University of Technology to open a college in the county as well as the Kiminini MP Kakai Bisau who has invited Egerton University to initiate university studies for the local students.
For the county government, after many ups and downs, it settled on the Bakhita site along the Kitale- Kapenguria highway to start the college while for the Kiminini MP, the legislator in conjunction with the NG-CDF picked on St Patrick’s Waitaluk Mixed Senior School as the location of the Egerton University College.
St Patrick’s Waitaluk Mixed Senior School was being phased out after failing to enroll enough students for the inaugural Grade 10 at the beginning of the 2026 academic year.
The University has now relocated its students from Kitale to main campus in Nairobi to clear their studies, JKUAT had in similar move had also closed colleges in Kakamega and Eldoret.
The Kitale shutdown is a follow-up to Kisii University, Mt Kenya University, Moi University and the University of Nairobi which earlier had bade bye to Kitale town and its environs.
For Mt Kenya University, however, the private university has maintained its existence in Trans Nzoia by opting for medical training that has since attracted a big enrollment. The other institutions offering medical and health studies include the Kenya Medical Training College KMTC, Cherangany Nursing Home and Sister Frida Hospital.
Trans Nzoia County is among a few counties that do not have universities in their jurisdictions but with the systematic closures of constituent colleges in the area, one may ask: will the two proposed universities being pushed by Governor George Natembeya and MP Kakai Bisau survive where the others have failed? Why can’t the two leaders pull resources to run one institution? Will the two colleges not doubling in offering the same courses?
By Abisai Amugune
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
