By Arnold Ageta
Professionals from Nyamira County have expressed their support for President William Ruto’s decision to establish Nyamira University at the Kiabonyoru site.
They have also criticized remarks made by West Mugirango MP, Stephen Mogaka, which they claim have cast a negative light on North Mugirango MP, Joash Nyamoko.
Speaking today at a press conference in Nyamira, the group’s interim chairman, Dr. Densford Maendo, welcomed President Ruto’s announcement regarding the establishment of Nyamira University at Kiabonyoru.
“Our President, Dr. William Ruto, is a rational, informed, and well-educated leader, fully versed in the matters of running this country.
His decisions symbolize the unity and pride of our nation,” Dr. Maendo said. “We are deeply embarrassed by Hon. Stephen Mogaka’s claims that the President made the announcement regarding the university’s location at Kiabonyoru without following legal procedures and that he was coerced by Hon. Joash Nyamoko.”
Dr. Maendo called on MP Mogaka to apologize to the President and immediately retract his previous statements. He further explained that the proposal to establish a public university in Nyamira County dates back to 2008, initiated by Kisii University, which identified Kiamogake in North Mugirango as an ideal location for the institution.
“The then MP for North Mugirango, Wilfred Ombui, spearheaded the idea and invited the late Prof. George Saitoti, the former Vice President, to visit the site,” Dr. Maendo added.
Dr. Maendo emphasized that the main objective of any university is to teach and conduct research, and that Nyamira University would benefit not only the people of North Mugirango but also the entire County of Nyamira and the country at large.
It is also noted that a similar effort to establish a university in Nyamira was made by the current North Mugirango MP, Joash Nyamoko, in collaboration with Dr. Fred Matiang’i when he was the Cabinet Secretary for Education. According to the Nyamira Professionals group, a provisional approval letter from the Commission for University Education (CUE) was issued to the University of Eldoret to establish the university.
At that time, the late Nyamira Governor, John Nyagarama, offered a conditional grant of KES 100 million towards the establishment of the institution. However, due to administrative challenges, the university was never established, and the grant from Nyamira County was never disbursed.
“Claims that some money from the County Government of Nyamira was embezzled are completely false. To whom was it released since the institution never started?” the group questioned MP Mogaka.
The group also alleged that MP Mogaka had invited anti-corruption agencies to investigate Mr. Nyamoko’s role in the alleged misappropriation of the KES 100 million grant, an issue they are keenly awaiting the outcome of.
“Hon. Stephen Mogaka is a lawyer by profession, and he is therefore expected to understand that the Speaker of a legislative assembly is an ex officio member who does not vote,” Dr. Maendo said. “We urge Hon. Mogaka to get his facts right, be honest, and objective on this issue of the KES 100 million.”
The professionals also argued that another attempt to establish a university in Nyamira was initiated by former Education CS Ezekiel Machogu, who assigned Kisii University to oversee the institution once it was founded.
“Kisii University, in conjunction with CUE, was tasked with conducting public participation across Nyamira County and recommending the most appropriate location for the university,” said Dr. Maendo.
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However, residents of West Mugirango and MP Mogaka argue that public participation was not conducted, and they describe the declaration of Kiabonyoru as the university’s site as coercive to the President during his recent visit to the area.
Stephen Mogaka claims that the North Mugirango MP organized some youths who carried banners and pressured the President into making the announcement.
Dr. Maendo, however, insists that after thorough and transparent public participation, Kisii University submitted site proposals, an issue he claims MP Mogaka is aware of.
The proposed sites included Ikonge Secondary School, Kiabonyoru Secondary School, Sere, Senator Kebaso Secondary School, Raiakimai, Manga, and Simbauti Farm in Borabu.
According to the Nyamira Professionals, the report ranked Kiabonyoru first, followed by Ikonge.
Regarding the closure of the Nyamira campus of Kisii University, Dr. Maendo clarified that Kisii University began closing its campuses in 2015 due to non-compliance with CUE regulations, financial issues, and logistical challenges, among other reasons. This was in response to allegations by MP Mogaka that the Nyamira campus was closed intentionally.
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Mr. Mogaka has urged Kisii University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nathan Ogechi, to reopen the Nyamira campus and admit Health Sciences students, arguing that the Nyamira County Referral Hospital is well-equipped and has a Doctors’ Plaza where lecturers can operate clinics when not teaching.
The professionals, mostly lecturers from Kisii University, called on MP Mogaka to reconsider his stance and withdraw the court case he filed last month.
The case seeks to prevent CUE and Kisii University from honoring President Ruto’s declaration of Kiabonyoru as the university’s site.
“We call upon our leaders to work together and embrace the new Nyamira University at Kiabonyoru, as announced by His Excellency the President. This location is within Nyamira County,” Dr. Maendo said. “We urge our honorable members to collaborate with the Ministry of Education to ensure the university is established as soon as possible.”
Dr. Peter King’oina, the group’s interim secretary, supported the proposed site, stating that they would support the university regardless of its location within Nyamira County because it would benefit the people of Nyamira.
“The law is clear that each county should have a university, but unfortunately, Nyamira does not even have a private university,” he lamented.
He urged leaders to unite for the common good of Nyamira residents and called on MP Mogaka to join other leaders in supporting the establishment of the university at Kiabonyoru.
“We will reach out to Stephen Mogaka to convey our message and ask him to reconsider his stance on the university site so that the project can commence as soon as possible,” Dr. King’oina implored. “The university will allow our children to study closer to home, boost the county’s economic growth, create business opportunities for locals, and generate employment.”
