Hope and opportunity: Marsabit residents welcome proposal for KIHBT campus

A proposal to open a campus of the Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology (KIHBT) in Marsabit County has stirred excitement across the region.

Leaders and residents hail it as a potential turning point for youth empowerment and development.

Located in Kenya’s far north and sharing a border with Ethiopia, Marsabit has long struggled with poor infrastructure and a shortage of skilled professionals.

Now, the idea of a local KIHBT branch is being seen as a practical solution to both.

“For years, many youths here have finished secondary school but had no access to technical training,” said Hillary Halkano, North Horr Sub-county Road Overseer.

“A KIHBT campus would equip them with the skills to build our own roads, houses, and water systems.”

Halkano, who graduated from the KIHBT Ngong campus in 2022, praised the institution’s hands-on approach to training.

He noted that construction projects in Marsabit currently rely heavily on workers brought in from other parts of the country, driving up costs and delaying progress.

A local campus, he believes, would reduce this dependency and allow projects to move faster and more affordably.

Young people in the region would gain access to courses in civil engineering, road construction, building technology, and water services, without the burden of relocating far from home.

Katelo Duba, Chairperson of the Turbi Peace and Development Committee, echoed these sentiments, noting that the county’s long-standing development challenges—such as poor roads and limited water access—are deeply tied to the lack of local technical expertise.

“With our own skilled labour force, we won’t have to wait for contractors from Nairobi or other towns,” said Duba. “It will cut costs, save time, and boost the local economy.”

North Horr Member of Parliament Wario Guyo also backed the proposal, saying it fits into Marsabit’s development goals and supports national efforts to expand Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

He emphasised that the institute would not only offer skills training but would also generate jobs and attract supporting services like student housing, ICT hubs, and small businesses.

“This is more than education; it’s empowerment,” said Guyo. “We want our youth to be the ones designing and maintaining our roads—not watching from the sidelines.”

The proposed campus would be KIHBT’s fifth nationwide. According to the institute’s director, Architect Geoffrey Githiri, the expansion is part of a broader national push for inclusive development through localised technical education.

“A campus in Marsabit will do more than offer training—it will spur economic growth, diversify livelihoods, and boost social mobility in Northern Kenya,” said Githiri.

He added that such an institution could also serve as a hub for climate-resilient construction and engineering solutions tailored to the region’s arid conditions.

The presence of the college, he said, could lead to better healthcare, stronger communities, and even greater cultural vibrancy.

“As globalisation accelerates, the world becomes increasingly connected, allowing individuals to explore diverse experiences,” Githiri noted. “We must ensure that Marsabit is not left behind.”

As the proposal gains momentum, the people of Marsabit are hoping it marks the start of a new chapter—one built with their own hands.