The rolling hills of Kiabonyoru in Nyamira County will soon host a new beacon of higher learning following the official ground-breaking of Nyamira University College — a long-awaited milestone for the Gusii region and Kenya’s expanding higher education landscape.
The ceremony will be held on Friday, 24th October 2025, at Kiabonyoru Grounds in Borabu/North Mugirango.
Among the distinguished guests expected are Hon. Julius Migos Ogamba, Cabinet Secretary for Education, and Hon. Soipan Tuya, Cabinet Secretary for Defence.
For years, residents of Nyamira County have dreamed of having a public university within their borders. That dream is finally becoming reality.
The new Nyamira University College will be the first public higher learning institution in the county — designed to serve local and regional needs through innovative, skills-based programs.
President William Ruto, during his 2024 development tour of Nyamira, affirmed Kiabonyoru as the official site for the university, ending years of lobbying and debate over the location.
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As bulldozers prepare to roll into Kiabonyoru, excitement is growing among residents. For Nyamira youth, the university college promises not just academic growth but empowerment — a platform for innovation, research, and self-reliance.
The establishment of the institution at Kiabonyoru in Nyamira County briefly stalled after the High Court issued temporary orders stopping the project in October 2024.
The petitioners argued that the move bypassed the Commission for University Education’s procedures and ignored earlier plans for a University of Eldoret constituent college at the exact location.
The court, through Justice W.A. Okwany, granted conservatory orders stopping implementation of the project pending the determination of the case. The petitioners claimed there had been inadequate public participation and that the choice of site marginalised other sub-counties, particularly Manga.
In January 2025, MP Mogaka withdrew his case, paving the way for progress.
By Joseph Mambili
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