Kakamega County is seeking to have Eregi Teachers Training College elevated to a constituent college of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST).
In a recent development, the county Deputy Governor (DG) Ayub Savula, on behalf Governor Fernandes Barasa, presented a proposal before MMUST acting Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Charles Mutai to convert the college to Eregi Catholic University.
Upon receiving the report, Prof Mutai said he will submit it to the university Council for adoption as it awaits approval from the Commission of University Education (CUE).
“As a university, we are willing to mentor Eregi Campus until it becomes a fully-fledged university as we have done before to Kibabii and Kaimosi universities, he asserted.
Noting the huge enrollment in the School of Education, with about 3000 first year students in September 2024, he was glad that the congestion would be eased by opening the Eregi campus.
“Eregi Catholic University will help address the high intake of students,” Prof Mutai said.
Prof Sammy Kubasu, Dr Bonface Mudi and Stanslaus Muteshi were also present at the ceremony. The proposed university will be a School of Education and a satellite campus of MMUST.
The university’s Director of Quality Assurance Prof Lilechi Barasa indicated that the college infrastructure is only 30 per cent shy of meeting the required standards.
This comes after MPs Benard Shinali of Ikolomani and Fred Ikana of Shinyalu said in November last year that plans to upgrade Eregi TTC to a constituent college of MMUST were at advanced stages.
The MPs, speaking in Kakamega, promised to work closely with both national and county governments to make sure they have delivered the promise to achieve their development agenda.
The proposal was also presented to President William Ruto during his visit to the Western region in February 2024 at the Kakamega State Lodge. The president then directed the Principal Secretary (PS) in the State Department of Higher Education to spearhead the initiative.
Savula said the upgrading was timely as it will stimulate economic growth and open up the area.
Further, he asked the university to hasten the adoption of the report as it has to be handed over to the President in May 2024 during his county visit.
The DG, who co-chairs the taskforce with the VC, has exuded confidence that the report will be adopted.
The college, if elevated to a university, will complement MMUST in the provision of quality education to Ikolomani and Shinyalu residents, as well as other Kenyans.
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By Brian and Cally Imbayi
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