Mogaka’s “Simple Formula” for Nyamira University Faces Opposition

By Arnold Ageta

West Mugirango MP, Stephen Mogaka, has reiterated his sentiment that the government lacks the funds to build the Nyamira University, as promised by the head of state last year.

He said he had a simple formula that could have established a university in Nyamira, but his plan was aborted by selfish interests that will prevent the dream university from being realized in Nyamira in the near future.

“If my opponents give up their selfish interests, the university will be built as soon as yesterday,” he announced.

Speaking during an interview on a local media house, Mogaka said that Kenya has no money to build a university, as was promised by President Ruto.

“Kenya is unable to fund the construction of the university, let alone funding university loans to students through HELB,” he said.

The MP says he had a very simple formula that could have seen the university start in the county as early as last year, but his idea was not adopted.

“I summoned all Nyamira County elected leaders and told them if we end the 2022-2027 term without a university, we will have lost it,” he revealed. “I told them that each constituency should donate an operational learning institution to serve as schools of different faculties.”

Mogaka said he had donated Senator Kebaso Secondary and Primary School, while Kitutu Masaba MP, Clive Gisairo, donated Sengera Manga Girls. The Nyamira governor proposed Ikonge Girls, and the area MP, Joash Nyamoko, proposed Kiabonyoru, while his Borabu Constituency donated Simbauti.

“We had agreed that these institutions should begin student admissions as we seek a government university charter so that the university could be included in government budget funding,” he revealed.

According to Mogaka, this was the easiest formula to realize Nyamira University, which could be in operation as we speak.

Mr. Mogaka had opposed Kiabonyoru as the host site for the proposed Nyamira University because the site had earlier received funding to host the University of Eldoret. He later filed a case disputing the site, but earlier this year, he withdrew the case, citing blame from his counterparts that he was the stumbling block.

“Because I know people like spreading lies, and the public easily believes lies, I withdrew the case to pave the way for the construction of the university,” he announced.

Mogaka still insists that because Kisii University had a campus in Nyamira, it should revive the campus to admit students from the county as they wait for Nyamira University.

He claims that his counterparts again opposed this, prompting him to withdraw from the university issue.

He emphasized that if they adopted his formula, the proposed Nyamira University would be realized without many obstacles.

“We only need to organize public participation and ask residents of the hosting institutions to agree to the proposals and start the university,” he said.

He further said that he is worried that this year’s budget will be passed without the Nyamira University because it is not yet operational.

Mogaka boasts of the success of his constituency after West Mugirango posted excellent results in the 2024 KCSE exams.

West Mugirango (Nyamira South Sub County) took first position in the county, and the MP is in the process of organizing a celebration to appreciate the great performance displayed in the constituency.

He attributes the success to teachers and students for their efforts and hard work that yielded great results, and to principals for not sending students away from school even when they had huge fee balances