President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday honoured famous Nandi Chief Orkoiyot Koitalel Arap Samoei by laying the foundation stone of a University named after him.
Koitalel Samoei University College will be built at the spot where Supreme Chief Koitalel was tricked and killed in 1905.
"As a country, we will not forget those who came before us and stood for justice. Koitalel was a hero for all Kenyans," said the President as he called on the youth to take advantage of access to education to achieve progress," the President stated.
He added: "Let us all strive to expand our economy because no one else will come to develop our country."
Deputy President William Ruto said the construction of the university was an emotional issue for the residents of the county where Koitalel came from.
Ruto, who shares the name Samoei with Koitalel, said the leaders of the region had insisted that the first course the university college offers should be Law to represent the freedom and justice that Koitalel stood for.
"This university represents the history of the people of Nandi. On behalf of the people of Nandi County and on my own behalf I want to thank you for starting the construction of its construction," DP Ruto stated.
"We want the university to produce people who will defend our freedoms and the sovereignty of our nation," added the Deputy President as he likened what the British did to Kenyans of Koitalel's generation to what the International Criminal Court tried to do to President Kenyatta and himself.
The university college, which starts off as a constituent of the University of Nairobi, will be constructed at the cost of Sh3.4 Billion.
