Plans to establish a university in Kerio Valley are back on track after Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich received a technical report approving the project.
It will be known as the Kerio Valley University and the aim is to help transform the region plagued by banditry, poverty and joblessness.
It will be a constituent college of the University of Eldoret.
“I have received a report from the technical committee formed last month to oversee establishment of Kerio Valley University,"Rotich said.
He said the team led by Professor Thomas Cheruiyot had 30 days to carry out a fact-finding mission on setting up a varsity.
The report has a detailed evaluation of the project, including a technical inspection report by the Commission for University Education.
“This clears the obstacles including mentorship that has also been approved by the University of Eldoret senate,” Rotich said.
The county has identified land and start-up facilities.
Former Governor Alex Tolgos had already signed a partnership MoU with UoE to help develop the county's education sector.
During campaigns, Tolgos blamed then Deputy President William Ruto for failing to support establishment of Kerio Valley University.
Rotich served as deputy to Tolgos and after taking over two months ago, he prioritised key issues, such as establishing a university help upgrade the region stricken by banditry.
“We will work with the national government through the Ministry of Education and other development partners to ensure the university plan is implemented," Rotich said.
Other leaders from the region led by CS nominee for Roads Kipchumba Murkomen have also said the plan for a university is part of development programmes in the valley.
Murkomen pledged to help improve the infrastructure to open up the region for development to help wipe out banditry.
“Our intention is to completely wipe out the insecurity problem and transform the region from a valley of death to a valley of life,” Murkomen said.
Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza team also pledged to revive the stalled Kimwarer and Arror dams whose construction was cancelled and scaled back, respectively by former President Uhuru Kenyatta. The two dams will be within the Kerio Valley.
(Edited by V. Graham)
