The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Economic Planning, Bonface Makokha, has directed a team of experts to conduct a 30-day feasibility study on the proposed establishment of a university in Nambale Sub- County, following calls by local teachers to expand access to higher education in the area.
Speaking after a meeting with teachers from Nambale Sub-County, Makokha said the team, working alongside selected teachers, will assess the economic viability of the proposed institution and recommend the type of university and academic programs best suited to the region.
“We are going to task a team of experts together with selected teachers to conduct a feasibility study on whether it is economically viable to establish a university in Nambale. The findings will help us determine the kind of university to establish and the academic fields it should focus on. We want to ensure that any decision we make benefits the people of Nambale and the country at large,” he said.
Makokha also promised to take the teachers’ proposal to establish a Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in the sub-county to the principal secretary for medical services, Dr Ouma Oluga.
“There is no college in Nambale, and I will write to PS Oluga to see whether we can set up a KMTC here. The teachers have suggested that the existing Nambale Polytechnic be upgraded, as it provides a suitable base for the institution,” he said.
The PS reiterated the government’s commitment to improving digital learning in schools, saying the State Department for ICT has allocated 100 laptops to every sub-county for distribution to schools.
“We have 100 laptops per sub-county that will be distributed to schools to enable learners to access information online. We will work with relevant stakeholders to determine which schools will benefit first,” he said.
Makokha further urged teachers to encourage young people to acquire national identity cards and register as voters, saying active participation in elections strengthens communities’ representation in national decision-making.
“For us to have a stronger voice at the decision-making table, our people must be registered as voters. Teachers can also encourage young people to obtain ID cards, enabling them to access government services and participate in elections. We must also take part in electing leaders who will champion our development priorities,” he said.
In a memorandum presented to the PS, teachers from Nambale Sub-County asked the government to establish both a university and a KMTC, arguing that the area has enormous potential in education, human resource development, agriculture, entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation.
The teachers said unlocking that potential requires intentional investment in education, infrastructure, employment, water, electricity, and other essential services.
“The establishment of a university and a medical training institution in Nambale will provide local youth with opportunities to pursue higher education in fields such as nursing, clinical medicine, medical laboratory sciences, community health, and other professional disciplines. These investments will improve the quality of life of our people while contributing to the country’s development agenda,” the memorandum states.
The teachers also appealed for the improvement of school infrastructure, including the rehabilitation of Nambale Boys High School, a national school.
They proposed the construction of cabro-paved walkways, improved drainage systems, expansion of electricity connections to schools and surrounding communities, and installation of additional transformers in areas experiencing unreliable power supply.
They further called on the government to facilitate partnerships between local communities, government agencies, development partners, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to promote practical and sustainable agribusiness and value-added programs.
According to the teachers, priority interventions should include the promotion of climate-smart agriculture, establishment of value-addition enterprises, and empowerment of youth and women through agribusiness.
They said the initiatives would increase agricultural productivity, create employment opportunities, reduce post-harvest losses, improve market access for farmers, and strengthen entrepreneurship across the sub-county.
