Nandi County political leaders led by Governor Stephen Sang have affirmed that the Koitale Samoei University stakeholders have amicably resolved the land row that derailed the setting up of its main campus in Nandi Hills.
The university, which was named after Nandi legendary leader Koitalel Arap Samoei, will now be established in over 120 acres of land in less than three years to include Samoei High School structures, while the high school will be relocated to the 12 acres of land currently under a tea plantation.
Speaking at Samoei Centre after the public participation exercise, Governor Sang divulged that Nandi County leaders had endorsed the resolutions that the community had settled on, noting that with the university there will be copious benefits to the residents that will expedite the growth of the subcounty.
“Within the next three years, let us have a university here up and running. We endorse the position of the community that we separate the university and the secondary school,” stated Governor Sang.
Sang further observed that Samoei High School will not only be repositioned, but it will also be upgraded into a model high school that will be able to accommodate over 2000 students, which is an added advantage to the subcounty, adding that this will go along in creating jobs for the locals and thus enhance development.
The County boss utilised the same event to inform the residents about the government’s plan, which is underway to build a modern market as well as affordable housing program in Nandi Hills town.
Nandi Hills Constituency Member of Parliament Benard Kitur lauded the residents for taking a bold step, assuring them that the university will be operational within the shortest time possible, adding that the government was determined to fulfil the long-awaited dream of having Koitalel Samoei University’s main Campus at Samoei centre in Nandi Hills.
“As Samoei community, we have come to terms on the issue of the university. In a period of two to three years, we will have Koitalel Samoei University here in Nandi Hills. I want to call upon investors to come in numbers and do investments in this town,” pointed out the legislator, noting that Nandi Hills is a peaceful town that can accommodate people from diverse backgrounds.
At the same event, Tinderet constituency Member of Parliament Julius Melly, who is also chairing the parliamentary education committee, echoed the sentiments, adding that they will ensure an audit is conducted on the Sh285 million that was committed in the first phase as a measure to ensure zero misappropriation of funds allocated for the construction of the university.
“We are here today because you have communicated to us that you have resolved the row. Today we have only come to rubber stamp your resolutions. We have to audit this project to determine how the first phase funds were utilised,” said the legislator, adding that a university comes with numerous advantages, including creating employment for the locals and boosting businesses, among other things.
He further noted that once the university is operational, there will be branches in all the subcounties in Nandi as a way to ensure it serves and unites all parts of Nandi County, adding that the current Mosoriot Campus will be an education campus.
Melly confirmed that the government will inject Sh50 million for the first and second phases of the construction of Samoei High Model School, disclosing that the school will be a state-of-the art secondary school.
“We want to have a university that connects every part of Nandi County. The main campus will receive about 20 thousand students. This is a boost to the businesses in this town,” added Melly.
The first foundation stone of the university was laid in 2017 by the retired president Uhuru Kenyatta, together with the then Deputy President Dr. William Ruto, when it was proposed to be the main campus of Samoei University, which is a constituent college of the University of Nairobi.
By Ruth Mainye
