University of Nairobi seeks Sh2bn to build Samoei college

The University of Nairobi is seeking Sh2 billion from the government for the construction of Samoei University College in Nandi County.

The university is set to start admitting students to Samoei college from January next year.

University of Nairobi (UoN) Deputy Vice-Chancellor Peter Mbithi said on Thursday the funds would be used to build modern classrooms, administration block, staff houses and hostels and buy equipment.

“The Samoei University College will offer UoN programmes and student admission will start in January 2015 and not September 2015 as it was earlier announced,” said Prof Mbithi.

He said that among the programmes to be offered are law, business management and education.

Prof Mbithi, who was accompanied by Dean of Law at UoN Wambui Musili, said the university would make use of some of the facilities at Samoei High School as they wait for funding from the national government for the project.

He said hiring of new staff would commence before January and a number of professors from UoN would be posted to Samoei University College.
He said Nandi County will be given priority in hiring of non-academic staff.

Prof Mbithi said professors from UoN were in the process of compiling reports on their requirements for the university college.

Nandi Governor Cleophas Lagat, who hosted the UoN team on the fact-finding mission at Samoei High School, said the college would have campuses at Mosoriot TTC for education and Kaiboi Technical for engineering, while Kaimosi Farmers Training College will be turned into the School of Agriculture.

“We call on parents to invest in education and utilise the new university. Hiring of staff and posting of professionals to work in the university college would not be based on tribalism and politics will be kept out of the university,” said Dr Lagat.

He said that Nandi County government would give Sh400 million for the construction of the first and second phases of the project.