President William Ruto has laid the foundation stone for the construction of hostels and a tuition block at the proposed Johanna Ng’eno University in Emurua Dikirr, Narok County, in a major push to expand access to university education in the region.
The President, who was in Emurua Dikirr on Wednesday, said the planned institution is expected to admit its first batch of students next year, paving the way for thousands of young people to pursue higher education closer to home.
“Today, we laid the foundation stone for hostels and a tuition block for the proposed Johanna Ng’eno University in Emurua Dikirr,” President Ruto said.
He said the university would play an important role in widening access to higher education, not only for residents of Narok County but also for students from other parts of the country.
“The university, which will admit the first batch of students next year, will expand access to higher education for the people of Narok and the entire country,” he said.
The establishment of the university is expected to transform the education landscape in Emurua Dikirr by providing learners with an opportunity to pursue university studies without having to travel long distances to access institutions of higher learning.
The planned hostels and tuition block will form part of the institution’s critical infrastructure as preparations gather pace for the admission of its first students. The facilities are expected to provide a suitable learning and residential environment for students once the university becomes operational.
Beyond education, the university is also expected to stimulate economic activity in Emurua Dikirr and the wider Narok County. The institution is likely to create employment opportunities and support the growth of businesses offering accommodation, transport, hospitality, retail and other services as the number of students and staff increases.
The project is also expected to contribute to the government’s broader efforts to increase opportunities for young Kenyans to acquire higher-level skills and qualifications that can enable them to compete effectively in the labour market.
President Ruto has repeatedly emphasized the importance of investing in education and skills development as part of Kenya’s long-term development agenda, particularly at a time when the country has a rapidly growing youthful population.
The proposed Johanna Ng’eno University is therefore expected to become more than just an institution of higher learning, with its establishment likely to have a wider impact on the social and economic development of Emurua Dikirr and the larger Narok region.
With the first cohort of students expected to join the university next year, attention will now turn to the completion of the planned facilities and other infrastructure required to ensure the institution is ready to receive learners.
The foundation stone laid by President Ruto marks a significant step in the journey towards establishing the university and could usher in a new era of higher education opportunities for young people in Narok and beyond.
