President William Ruto Thursday, December 8, ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to surrender a parcel of land adjacent to the Technical University of Kenya (TUK).
Speaking during the launch of a newly constructed tuition block at the institution, Ruto stated that the land will offer more space for the university to erect enough facilities and accommodate more students.
He asked the institution to work in tandem with the MFA in an arrangement that will see more space within the vicinity of the university's Main Campus freed up.
Ruto noted that he was cognizant of the constraints facing TUK, which is located at the heart of Nairobi, in terms of competition for space with government departments and agencies surrounding it.
“Having been taken around the institution and I see the constraints in terms of space for the development of facilities, I will instruct the ministry to relocate space for the ministry so that the land can be surrendered to the university for the expansion," Ruto stated as the students responded with electrifying applause.
In addition, Ruto stated that his government will support TUK in constructing over 5,000 hostels for students through the Department of Housing and Urban Planning as part of the affordable housing plan.
The Head of State reiterated his commitment to promoting technical training which he stated that it aligns with his vision of innovation and industrialization.
“Our presence at this event signals the government's readiness to partner with tertiary institutions and especially TVETs to forge a clear pathway for Kenya to deepen its competitive technical capacity and assume global leadership,” he indicated.
In response to concerns raised regarding a faulty footbridge at the Haile Sellasie Avenue crossing point to the institution, Ruto assured that his government would move with speed to restore and make it usable for the students.
Further, the President stated that his government had embarked on plans to alleviate the financial crises experienced in most public universities in Kenya.
According to the Head of State, the government was working on refining structures to ensure every university admits students that the government of Kenya can support.
On his part, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja urged the state to prioritize empowering learning institutions, arguing that doing so would guarantee the country of skills needed to reinvigorate the economy and compete globally.
"The Bottom-up economy needs this university because it is not looking for those with millions of shillings in the bank but those with millions of ideas in their minds," Sakaja stated.