By Lydia Ngoolo
Stalled years ago, there is glimmering hope of reviving South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) Mwingi town Campus in Kitui County as local professional lobby group starts a series of meetings to chart the way forward.
The university was meant to bring education closer to the locals when the Mwingi professionals donated a 15-acre piece of land in Kanzoka area, Kivou Ward of Mwingi Central, few kilometres from Mwingi town for the construction in 2016.
The residents have been faced with uncertainty as the construction of the university stalled even before the completion of the gate.
It is upon this scenario that the professionals held a consultative meeting led by chairman Titus Kivaa, with the SEKU Vice Chancellor Professor Geoffrey Muluvi revealing that there were sure plans of actualizing the campus. The VC is part of the lobby group.
According to Prof Muluvi, the university will cost Ksh350 million and will take two years to complete.
“I call upon residents to be patient and allow us to lobby for funds as we hold more meetings with Governor Julius Malombe and other leaders. I am sure we will start tendering processes for the fence before end of this year,” he added.
Even as they lay plans, he hoped the campus will be built to the required standards to enable the Commission of University Education (CUE) accredit it.
Kivaa on his part noted that the area economy is set to grow once the institution is up and running.
“We have no single university in Mwingi, but when one is established jobs will be created, businesses will grow and education will be brought closer to the people,” he said.
The coordinator of the professional lobby group Campbell Munyambu called upon all elected leaders and political luminaries like Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka to seriously consider the project.
“Let our leaders continue lobbying for the funds to be released from the treasury. We don’t feel good with stalled projects. We want development,” Munyambu said.
The campus will be a subsidiary of the main institution located at Kwa Vonza off Machakos-Kitui Highway, a short distance to Kitui town.
