Makueni: Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has pledged to support the accreditation of South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU)- Wote Campus to be a fully-fledged University or college. Mutula said the accreditation of the Wote Campus to a university will be a milestone in advancing research, innovation and academic excellence in key areas like agriculture, healthcare, and economic development.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Governor made this announcement at his Wote office when the SEKU University Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Douglas Shitanda and some members of the Commission of University Education (CUE) paid him a courtesy call on Wednesday. 'I welcome the move and hope to have a university that qualified people from outside the region and within will come to study in Makueni, particularly Wote,' said Mutula. 'There is a need to ensure accreditation status is achieved for it is important to the local economy and research,' he added.
The CUE was in Wote to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the Wote Campus to determine its readiness for accreditation. The commission is charged with the responsibility of licensing and overseeing higher education institutions in the country.
Concerning land, the county boss said that SEKU has 4,500 acres of land at Emali, and promised to ensure the issues surrounding the parcel of land are resolved quickly to hasten the accreditation of the institution in Makueni. 'As the governor of Makueni, we will assist them, whatever needs to be done that including planning, beaconing, surveying and titling, is done on their behalf because that is our mandate,' posed the governor.
'So, CUE will check and give a nod or give conditions on what needs to be done. We shall have a university here soon. CUE law requires that every county should have a university,' Mutula said. However, it should be observed that the community at Emali is claiming a portion of the land at Emali Municipality.
Speaking at the event, Prof Shitanda said that the CUE has come to do a technical evaluation while saying that they will support the commission to hasten the accreditation of the university as required by law. He also disclosed that currently they have 28.5 acres of land while noting that CUE requires a university to have at least 50 acres of land to be able to be a fully-fledged university.
However, the VC lauded the governor for pledging support to ensure the issues facing SEKU, especially on land, are resolved. 'If there are any challenges, we are going to work together with the governor to ensure that all requirements by CUE are met. The governor has already committed to ensure the balance of land is achieved and any other issue that will be recommended by the commission be resolved,' said Prof Shitanda. 'So, we are happy at this particular time and we look forward to having Makueni University,' he posed.
Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili accompanied the governor during the courtesy call.