President William Ruto has announced a major education infrastructure boost for Nyamira County, pledging Sh500 million for the completion and equipping of Nyamira University and the construction of 183 classrooms, 44 laboratories and dormitories across 68 schools.
The pledges form part of billions of shillings in development projects the President has promised Nyamira County during his four-day tour of the Gusii region, covering roads, school infrastructure, hostels, health facilities and a modern stadium at Esanige in Magwagwa Ward.
The President made the pledges on Sunday, November 8, and Monday, November 9, during the first two days of the tour, which covers Nyamira and Kisii counties from November 8 to 11. On Sunday, he began with an interdenominational church service at Nyamaiya Stadium in West Mugirango, before launching projects in West Mugirango and North Mugirango. On Monday, he toured Kitutu Masaba, where he launched the Riamoni-Esani-Nyangori road and Last Mile electricity projects.
He was accompanied by North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko, West Mugirango MP Steve Mogaka, Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo, his Kisii counterpart Simba Arati, Nyamira Woman Representative Jerusha Momanyi and Solicitor General Shadrach Mose, among other leaders.
On education, Ruto pledged Sh500 million for the completion and equipping of Nyamira University, which is expected to admit its first students in September 2027. He also announced a further Sh200 million to Sh300 million for university hostels in different locations.
For schools, he announced the construction of 183 classrooms, 44 laboratories and dormitories across 68 schools in Nyamira County.
For student accommodation, the President announced Sh300 million for hostels at Nyamira Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC). Other reports put hostels for 2,500 students at KMTC Nyamira and Nyamira TVET within a wider Sh10 billion package for affordable housing, modern markets and student hostels in the county. Under the same package, 2,500 housing units are under construction and 10 markets are being built in Nyamira.
On roads, the President announced that between Sh11 billion and Sh15 billion had been set aside to tarmac 180 kilometres of roads across Nyamira County. The figure has varied across speeches and media reports of the same road programme. Speaking in Nyamira, Mr Ruto said the county deserved equitable development like other parts of the country, and added that the government was spending Sh11 billion on roads and rural electrification.
On Sunday, he launched the upgrading to bitumen standard of the Bondeni-Magombo Road at Makairo Market in West Mugirango, and the Tombe-Isinta-Mokomoni Road in North Mugirango, also referred to as Tombe-Mokomoni and Tombe-Isinda-Mokomoni Road.
On Monday, he launched the Riamoni-Esani-Nyangori Road at Nyangori township in Kitutu Masaba, also called Nyangori-Esani-Riamoni and Riamoni-Esani-Machururiati-Nyangori Road. He said the 37-kilometre road would cost Sh3.5 billion and instructed the contractor to complete tarmacking within eight months. He said it was being launched for the first time.
Other roads named for tarmacking under the 180-kilometre programme include Tombe-Magombo, Eronge, Amabuko-Manga, Manga-Mote Momwamu and Kemera-Keumbu.
The President also announced a four-lane dual carriageway from Mau Summit through Kericho, Bomet, Nyamira and Kisii to Kisumu, linking to the Eldoret-Malaba Highway. Construction is expected to start around April 2027, after completion of the Sh200 billion Rironi-Mau Summit highway.
For sports, Ruto launched the construction of the modern Magwagwa Stadium at Esanige in Magwagwa Ward, North Mugirango, at a cost of Sh1 billion. He said the international-standard stadium would be completed by May 2027 and would give young people a platform to nurture their sporting talents. He also mentioned a second facility at Nyamaiya, although no amount was given for that stadium.
On health, he announced Sh1.7 billion for the expansion and upgrading of Nyamira County Referral Hospital to Level 5 status, so that residents no longer have to travel long distances for specialised care.
On electricity, the President announced Sh500 million to connect 6,840 households in Nyamira through 71 projects. On Sunday, he flagged off Last Mile connectivity for 700 homes in West Mugirango.
Other pledges announced during the tour included Sh70 million for the Ikonge Modern Market and Sh300 million for the proposed Ikonge Standard Gauge Railway station.
Ruto is expected to continue the tour in Kisii County on Tuesday and Wednesday, with more project launches and inspections.
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