Wrangles
surrounding the establishment of the first ever public university in Baringo
have taken a new twist; weeks after Deputy President William Ruto proposed
another venue.
Mr.
Ruto said the Government's decision was that Baringo Technical Institute would
be converted into a university then relocated, which has angered local
residents.
On
Monday, the DP met 30 MCAs together with all MPs from the county and Governor
Ben Cheboi at his Karen home where he is reported to have told them to ensure
that university was located at the technical institute.
And
yesterday, hundreds of residents from Seretunin trekked several kilometres to
Governor Cheboi's office to register their displeasure with the way the issue
had been politicised.
Led
by Francis Mutai, they said a task force composed of Baringo Central professionals
to look into the most suitable location for the university.
They
said the team had settled on Moi Teachers Training College, and the report had
been handed to the governor to send to the national government.
"The
task force presented its findings at the Kenya School of Government, and
participants agreed and handed them to the governor who said he supported the
idea," read the signed petition to the governor.
They
said Baringo Central MP Sammy Mwaita had visited Seretunin to ascertain the
existing infrastructure and promised the locals that he would support the idea.
Apart
from the two sites, Baringo South residents have offered more than 1,000 acres
in Chemeron to the university. The land is currently being used by Egerton
University for research.
