Conflict has arisen over the opening of a second public university in Trans Nzoia County with two separate bodies bidding to run for their respective campuses.
The first group which is the County Government under Governor George Natembeya, in 2024 initiated a task force to look into the possibilities of the establishing the first-ever public university to be funded fully through the public tax.
A task force headed by Prof Masibo Lumala recommended for the campus to be opened at the facilities at the former Kitale County Hospital grounds before the government entered into an agreement with a Nigerian NGO to run the institution.
However, one year since the county government signed documents with the Lagos-based Nigeria Bells University of Technology and recommended the takeover of the former Moi University Bakhita Campus for initial phase of the proposed Trans Nzoia University; nothing has taken off the ground.
The CEC member for education Janerose Mutama has been adamant, saying that there was nothing to curtail the long overdue investment of bringing to the group university education for the local learners.
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On her part, the Vice Chancellor of the Bells University Prof Jeremiah Oludele committed himself to the partnership and collaboration of his institute creating new ventures in agricultural technology.
And this week, Kiminini MP Kakai Bisau announced that discussions were going on with Egerton University to start a constituent college in his constituency.
Speaking at a leaders’ consultative meeting at Kabuyefwe in his constituency, Bisau indicated that the planned higher learning institution will be located in Waitaluk ward on completion of the talks between the local leaders and Egerton University.
Without giving details as far as the sponsors of the project, the MP who has taken a cue in the education sector of the area said that the university will cater for the thirst of university studies of the local students.
Prior to Natembeya proposing for the university, the National Assembly education committee had shelved a motion by the former Kiminini MP Dr Chris Wamalwa to turn the Kitale National Polytechnic into a full-fledged university offering degree courses
By Abisai Amugune
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