Maseno University takes over Odera Akang'o college campus

Odera Akang'o Campus at Yala in Gem Constituency, Siaya County. [Titus Munala, Standard]

Maseno University has taken over the management of Odera Akang’o college campus. Odera Akang’o was launched in 2008 as a satellite campus of Moi University.

The campus has not received government-sponsored students from Moi University since 2016 as had been the norm, although they admitted private-sponsored students before shutting down two years ago.

Yesterday, Maseno University took over the college in a ceremony witnessed by Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha.

Prof Magoha said Odera Akang’o has been taken over due to management reasons. “I am advising Maseno University to rename the institution from a college campus to a research centre. We want to ensure this institution survives,” he said.

Before its closure, the college campus had received warnings from the Commission for University Education (CUE) that it risked closure if it could not get 50 hectares of land for expansion and improve physical structures to meet the standards of a university after an inspection was done in 2016.

The CUE had given the campus two years to ensure all the requirements were met by February 2018 when another inspection would be conducted for a final decision.

In a bid to beat the closure threats, the college campus acquired 90 hectares of land in Nyamininia near Yala town. The county government committed Sh41 million two years ago to help refurbish the campus structures and in return the institution would provide tuition scholarships to its staff.

However, Moi University administration pulled out, letting go of all the workers who had remained at the campus despite it not having students.

Maseno University Vice Chancellor Julius Nyabundi said the university council had been pessimistic about the takeover, but later got justification that it is viable.

“We have made plans to see how we can use this campus. We now want to take a leading role to ensure Yala town and the county economy is rejuvenated. We ask the county government to continue supporting the institution,” said Prof Nyabundi.

He said they have serious plans for the college and will put it to good use.

Moi University Vice Chancellor Isaac Kosgey said they started Odera Akang’o campus to ensure the aspirations of the Ogot family who donated land are achieved.

Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo said the journey to revive the campus has had lots of hurdles, conversations and meetings.

“We held two meetings with Moi University and another two with Maseno to chart the way forward for this institution. I am glad that today we can have a sense of hope that this institution can be revived. I pray that as Maseno takes over, this institution will be an example in Siaya,” said Odhiambo.

Siaya Deputy Governor James Okumbe said the county has spent Sh41 million to upgrade the institution’s infrastructure.