Kaimosi Teachers Training College gets varsity status

By ERIC LUNGAI

The Commission for University Education (CUE) has approved the elevation of Kaimosi Teachers Training College in Vihiga County into a university.

The Prof David Some led-commission conducted an inspection of the institution yesterday and approved its elevation into Kaimosi Friends University College. The new university will be a constituent college of Kakamega-based Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology. “After the inspection exercise, the commission is satisfied that the facility meets the required standards to be upgraded into a university,” Prof Some said.

He added: “We would, however, give the recommendations to the Cabinet Secretary for Education for approval.”

Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga has been pushing for the establishment of the university, the first one in the county.

The governor’s bid got a boost after Friends Church gave the training college 180 acres of land for the establishment of the university.

Higher learning

The Commission arrived at the recommendation after a thorough technical inspection of the college, which will now become the new university.

“What we need now is documentary evidence for the transfer of property from the teachers’ college to the university. Otherwise, we have nothing to hold us back from giving Vihiga County this institution to offer higher learning,” said Prof Some, who led a team of 13.

Masinde Muliro University will in turn mentor the university college. “The university college will have its governing council soon. The county government and Friends Church should help in working on modalities to install a council,” said Some.

Some said the fact that Vihiga County has no university, and bearing in mind the rules of devolution that require each county to have a university, they had no option but to recommend it.