President William Ruto has underscored the importance of expanding higher education in Northern Kenya, announcing plans to construct a university in Wajir County.
Speaking during the Madaraka Day celebrations, President Ruto said the government will prioritise the establishment of the institution as part of efforts to expand access to university education across the country.
He directed local leaders and the county government to identify a suitable parcel of land for the construction of the university, terming it a key priority in the government’s education infrastructure agenda.
The Head of State said education remains the most powerful tool in addressing inequality and expanding opportunity, noting that investment in learning institutions is central to national development.
“Of all the tools a nation possesses, education is the most potent. It is the bridge between promise and possibility. Between poverty and prosperity. Between exclusion and belonging,” said William Ruto.
He said the proposed university will help bridge the gap in access to higher education for learners in Wajir and surrounding counties, reducing the need for students to travel long distances in search of university education.
The President noted that Kenya’s long-term transformation will depend on strengthening learning institutions, including universities that can support skills development, research, and innovation.
He added that the expansion of university education in underserved regions is part of a broader national plan to decentralise higher learning institutions and promote equitable access to education opportunities.
Ruto directed that the project be fast-tracked through collaboration between county and national government structures to ensure timely implementation.
Once established, Wajir University is expected to serve as a key center for higher learning in the region, offering degree programmes and expanding access to tertiary education for local students.
By Hamdi Buthul
