President
William Ruto on Friday toured Tharaka Nithi county, the backyard of his Deputy,
Kithure Kindiki, and promised to ensure that university education is affordable
and accessible.
Addressing students at Tharaka University, the President said no student should miss out on higher education due to poverty.
“We are going to work to make sure every student gets the opportunity to learn,” President Ruto said.
He acknowledged that universities had previously faced funding challenges but assured students that his administration, in collaboration with vice chancellors, had put in place mechanisms to ensure financial stability.
“We are
going to make sure that you learn in universities that are financially stable and that our learners get the best opportunity to become the best they can be,”
he added.
The President also emphasized that university students have been included in the government’s Universal Health Coverage programme.
“I want to assure you, comrades, that in our Universal Health Coverage, we have ensured that every student—including university students—will be beneficiaries,” Ruto said.
“Every
student must have health insurance.”
President Ruto, who is on day four of his tour of the Mount Kenya region, also announced that the government has advertised the construction of a modern hostel at Tharaka University to accommodate 1,200 students.
“I allocated funds from the Housing Levy so that comrades in all our public universities and technical institutions can learn in safe and conducive environments, especially our female students,” he said.
He further promised to return to Tharaka University within two months to preside over the groundbreaking ceremony for the hostels once the procurement process is complete.
Ruto, who
was accompanied by several political leaders, including his deputy, also
announced plans to construct two boreholes for the university and to complete
the stalled administration block.
He said that once completed, the boreholes would ensure sufficient water for consumption by students and the institution at large.
The President will spend most of the day in Tharaka Nithi to launch development projects.
