By Our Reporter
The closure of Kisii University’s Kapenguria Campus has shattered the dreams of hundreds of learners after its relocation from the heart of the busy Makutano town to Keringet, 7 kilometres further interior.
It is also 8 years since the Commission for University Education (CUE) began requisitioning them to comply with a government directive to embed technology in their programmes.
The campus, which was started in 2014, was initially located on a commercial property in Makutano town.
It later shifted location to Keringet on a 72-acre piece of land with its landmark state-of-the-art Agricultural Training Centre for farmers, the brainchild of the county governor Simon Kachapin during his first stint as county chief executive.
It is not clear what transpired to bring it down, but the dwindling numbers are blamed on the considerable distance from town and the logistical constraints to many students.
To complicate it further was the Covid-19 pandemic that saw many universities adopt new pedagogies of learning amid challenges of ICT infrastructure and adaptability.
As virtual learning overtook physical interaction, students had to look for alternatives as such factors had financial implications and constraints, including seeking services from other universities far away from home.
This turn of events has elicited sharp reactions from the host community who see it as a serious negation of the gains made.
According to the Kisii University Director Dr. Agrey Okutu, radical policy shifts saw several universities wind up their operations in campuses deemed untenable across the country.
“Our numbers went down. We only had 200 learners from 2,200 at inception. The government policy worked against us,” said Dr Okutu.
He said high operational costs were some of the factors that pushed them to the wall.
“The parallel students were constant revenue avenues for most institutions and as such gave universities income lifelines,” he said.
Masol Member of County Assembly (MCA) Wilson Chekeruk, who was a community development student at the university, noted that the presence of the university was a welcome boost for the community’s reputation, which hitherto had negative tags associated with cattle rustling, FGM and other retrogressive cultural practices.
West Pokot County Kenya National Union of Teachers [KNUT] Secretary Martin Sembelo noted that area residents were thirsty for education and wanted services near their homes.
“We only had one university but it has been closed. We only have one Professor who is the former governor John Lonyangapuo,” he said.
He observed that there is need for institutions to save parents the agony of incurring expenses when they take their children far away to get education.
“Students from here and other remote areas of the county are forced to use a lot of money before getting education. It is expensive for them to travel,” he said.
He asked universities to come and set up base in the region because people are now willing to learn.
“We should not force our students to join universities they do not like. These students were reluctant to join the university because of the long distance,” he observed.
He called on the county government to mobilize resources and set up universities in the area if the national government fails to heed their calls.
An interview with the local opinion leaders revealed some simmering outrage as they wish the university campus would transition to a university college and eventually get their own fully fledged university.
Elijah Kasheusheu, a former MCA, said the closure of the university had also led to unemployment.
“90 Percent of the workers were from West Pokot and now they have been rendered jobless,” he complained.
West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin, however, says he will revive the campus.
“It was mismanaged and politics spoiled everything,” he said.
The governor also said the community wants the campus to be awarded a full charter and called the Kapenguria University of Science and Technology.
“The university had attracted students from as far as Amudat in Uganda, Mt. Elgon, Trans-Nzoia ,Elgeyo-Marakwet and Turkana counties .The nearest university is Moi and is 100 kilometres away while the one in Lodwar is 350,” he lamented.
Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto called on the president to intervene.
“We have embraced peace and taken education seriously. This area was a closed district and the Keringet area was the gate,” he said.
Christopher Chang’orok, a resident, said it was a big loss for the people living around the university because there had been some business and job opportunities.
Among them is Asha Chemasuet, who was a cook at the university, and now jobless.
