Residents of Mariene in Imenti Central Sub-County are looking forward to a wave of economic transformation following the government’s commitment to boost the completion of Mariene University Campus, under the Meru University of Science and Technology.
The majority of them are now gearing up to start business ventures targeting students, set to be admitted to the institution as well as the teaching staff and other workers.
One of the residents, James Karemu told KNA that the announcement by President William Ruto to set aside Sh500 million for completion of various structures including lecture halls was a clear indication that the institution will soon kick off its operations.
“We needed that assurance and now that the President has pronounced himself towards this, it is now up to us to take advantage of this opportunity to tap in money from learners and the staff from the institution,” said Karemu.
On her part, Mary Kathambi who owns a food kiosk in the area said that she was looking for money to expand her business to accommodate more people.
“It is now our time to thrive in terms of business and I am optimistic that this area will soon undergo overhaul economic transformation,” said Kathambi.
She added that considering the fact that the institution will solely be dealing with agricultural research activities, then it will play a key role in the transformation of agriculture not only in Mariene, but also the entire country.
On the other hand, Jason Kirimi anticipated that the value of parcels of land in the area would soon go up, but warned the residents against selling their land without a worthy cause.
Out of the Sh500 million pledged by the government, the initial Sh200 million will be released during the current financial year to complete a section of the buildings and kick-start operations at the proposed university, while the other bunch of Sh300 million will be released in the next financial year.
On February 27, 2015, then President Uhuru Kenyatta visited Meru and granted Meru University of Science & Technology a research institute based at Mariene Coffee Research Centre.
Subsequently, on June 23, 2017, Kenyatta presided over the issuance of a title deed of 10 acres of land and promised financial assistance for the construction of the institute.
Currently, the institute has 27 acres of land after 17 more were added last year.
The mandate of the campus is to offer graduate training and research in priority areas aligned to Vision 2030 and the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda, agriculture value addition technology, and Agro-processing for coffee, tea, avocado, macadamia, and potatoes, among others.
Students will also acquire training on post-harvest technology, climate-smart agricultural technologies, Food Science, Agriculture, and Environmental Science.
It will create the first research university model in the Country, working closely with Kenya’s Agricultural Research and Livestock Organisation for co-supervision and teaching.
By Dickson Mwiti
