The Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime has promised to fast track the issuance of tittle deed for Taita Taveta University’s Ngerenyi campus land.
The campus, which hosts the School of Agriculture Earth and Environmental Sciences, is set to be expanded upon issuance of the land ownership documents.
Mwadime said the expansion of the institution will spur growth in the agricultural–rich Taita region.
"In the next one week the title deed should be out. Making the facility operational and expanding it will revive the economy of Ngerenyi while at the same time provide a conducive learning environment to the learners," he said.
The county chief said the university will help local farmers gain new farming technologies which will in turn result to good yields and more income.
He was speaking during a tour at the campus on Friday.
The institution, formerly Kidaya-Ngerenyi Agricultural Training Centre, is the first institute within the county to become a constituent campus of Taita Taveta University College.
It, however, lacks key infrastructure to enhance its capacity since it has been unable to expand for lack of a title deed.
“Once the issue is sorted then the institution will expand its capacity to accommodate many students. Our farmers will also benefit,” Mwadime said.
The governor urged the community around Ngerenyi to be much more aggressive to benefit from the university through employment and training.
Farmers are also set to benefit from seminars and short courses from the institution to improve food production.
“The county government is keen on training farmers on modern farming technology that will increase production. The institutions will play a bigger role in the trainings,” Mwadime said.
Taita Taveta University vice chancellor Prof Fred Barasa said that many development projects at the institution had stalled due to lack of funding from the national government.
He said the government had stopped funding the campus since it did not have ownership documents.
“Many of our projects at the institution have stalled because we do not have a title deed. Once completed, the institution will be able to realise its full potential,” the VC said.
The campus offers masters, undergraduate, diploma and certificate programmes in agricultural and horticulture-related courses.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
