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{
    "id": 571935,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/571935/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 236,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13162,
        "legal_name": "Moses Otieno Kajwang'",
        "slug": "moses-otieno-kajwang"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. I would like to start by congratulating Sen. Halima for bringing this amendment. There has been a law that requires the CUE to establish universities at the counties but what has been lacking is the link between the CUE and the county governments. What this amendment seeks to do is to bring in that link, so that as we set up universities in the counties, the governors and those involved in our counties are also involved in some way. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the location of universities has traditionally been skewed in favour of certain parts of this country. If you look at the older universities, University of Nairobi is in Nairobi County, Moi University, Uasin Gishu, Kenyatta University in Nairobi County, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, in Kiambu County and Maseno University in Kisumu County, even though I know that my good friend from Vihiga claims that it should be in Vihiga County. Certain areas have benefited from the location of universities. I went to Moi University which opened up a significant part and created a lot of opportunities in the Uasin Gishu County economy. It was positioned in a small village called Kesses. Moi University over the years has really transformed and improved the fortunes of the people of that region. When we make it a requirement that we should have universities in all the counties, we are opening up these immense opportunities to all parts of this country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, county governments have attempted to set up universities as flagship projects. Unfortunately, they have encountered opposition. Of course, when they fall back to the Constitution, it says that higher education is a national Government function. So, even in cases where the governors have felt that they have got adequate land and resources to set up universities, it has not been possible for them to initiate and proceed with those noble ideas. Members of the National Assembly have also attempted to use the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) to try and come up with universities at the counties. In Homa Bay County, for example, we have seen the Members of the National Assembly coming together and contributing some money out of the CDF kitty, so that out of eight constituencies within the county, they can start with some seed capital. But a university is not a cheap affair. You cannot start one with Kshs80 million, even if each constituency was to contribute Kshs10 million to the initiative. I agree with a Senator who has spoken here, that when we say that the CUE shall establish universities in all the counties, we must also ensure that Parliament collectively allocates resources and provides the requisite funds to see to it that these universities can be set up. We are attempting to set up a constituent college in Homa Bay County called Tom Mboya University College. This college seeks to immortalize Tom Mboya, one of the great sons that Homa Bay has produced. The thinking is that when we set up a university at the county level, then it should focus on local problems, research and policy that are out to address the problems faced within that county. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}