Murang’a Technical Training Institute will be ready to admit first batch of students once learning institutions in the country resume operations.
The college which is located near Maragua town now has water, which had hindered its operations.
The institute whose construction commenced in 2012, had stalled despite government having pumped Sh. 300 million into it.
Maragua National Government Constituency Development Fund has funded the sinking of a bore hole at the facility at a cost of Sh. 3.5 million to ensure the institute has enough water.
The government has also procured equipment worth Sh. 100 million to the institute in readiness for students’ admission come January next year.
Maragua MP Mary Waithera on Saturday hailed completion of the college saying it will boost economy of Maragua town.
The college, Waithera noted, has capacity to admit 6, 000 students adding that it is a large institute that the government has promised to elevate to a National Polytechnic soon.
The institute sits on 12-acres that is likely to increase to 14 once the local NG-CDF effects its plan to purchase two more acres for it.
The legislator further observed that the operationalization of the college will result in an influx of people in the sleepy Maragua town and consequently boost the local economy.
She said residents will also be prioritized in casual jobs, and appealed to those with farms near the college to construct hostels that will accommodate the students.
“They will buy from local shops and patronize local hotels which will benefit residents,” she said, adding that the students will inject life into the quiet Maragua town that struggles with a slow economy.
The students, she added, will carry out their sporting activities in the neighbouring Gakoigo stadium, sparking growth of the local shopping centre.
She observed that the value of the local property has doubled following the construction of the institution.
The Institute’s principal Robin Wachira said the national government has already delivered the equipment needed for mechanical engineering and ICT courses and that the rest will be in place by the time it starts enrolment.
Wachira appealed to local form four leavers that are yet to enroll with any tertiary institution and scored between C- and D- in their Kenya National Secondary Education (KCSE) to enroll in the institute.
By Bernard Munyao
