Baringo Leaders Rekindle Debate Over Location of Proposed Public University
A group of former Baringo County Assembly members has reignited calls for a clear decision on where to locate the county’s long-promised public university. Speaking at a press conference in Kabarnet, the group urged current leaders to settle the issue once and for all, arguing that decades of disagreement have delayed crucial development for Baringo. They said that establishing a university in the county would dramatically improve access to higher education for local students and reduce the financial burden of traveling to distant campuses.
Led by Reuben Chepsongol, the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) director and former Bartabwa MCA, and joined by former MCAs Silas Tochim and Jeniffer Kabon, the group argued that Baringo already has the infrastructure and land needed to host a university. They accused current political leaders of dragging their feet and called on them to negotiate decisively rather than allow the division to continue stalling progress. We have been talking about this university for too long, Chepsongol said. We must stop the infighting and finally build an institution that will uplift our people.
The former MCAs noted that a public university would not only boost access to higher learning but also spur job creation and economic growth in the county. Tochim pointed out that President William Ruto has previously encouraged all stakeholders to find consensus on the university’s location. Meanwhile, Kabon challenged Governor Benjamin Cheboi, Senator William Cheptumo, and Baringo Woman Representative Florence Jematia to lead the negotiations, calling for concerted leadership in rallying parliamentarians and county officials around one vision. She suggested that satellite campuses could be established across sub-counties so that all regions benefit.
Governor Cheboi, speaking separately, welcomed the renewed discussion, while urging residents to stay engaged. He used the opportunity to highlight other projects he has brought to the county, including a road inauguration and the distribution of over 20,000 title deeds to landowners—a move he said reflects his commitment to broad-based development. The governor also asked people to join in welcoming President Ruto on his upcoming tour, which is expected to shine a light on Baringo’s readiness for further investment in education and infrastructure.