SEKU Campus Wote town. Photo Courtesy 
The journey to establishing a fully-fledged university in Wote has taken a major step forward after the Commission for University Education (CUE) conducted a technical evaluation of the South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) campus in Wote, Makueni County.
Speaking during the visit, SEKU Vice Chancellor Prof. Douglas Shitanda expressed optimism that the process would soon culminate in the recognition of the Wote campus as an independent university.
He commended Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr for his unwavering support in facilitating the requirements set by the commission.
“The Commission has come to do a technical evaluation, and as SEKU, we are committed to supporting the process. We are confident that this will be successful, and in case of any gaps, we shall work closely with the Governor to ensure all requirements are fully met,” Prof. Shitanda said.
He revealed that the current Wote campus sits on 27.85 acres, short of the required 50 acres, but noted that the Governor had already committed to provide the additional land needed.
On his part, Governor Kilonzo underscored the importance of the development, terming it a transformative milestone for Makueni residents and the wider region.
“The Commission’s visit today is a critical step in our application to have Wote host a university. This will not only benefit our county but also the entire region by giving our people a chance to access higher education closer home,” he said.
The Governor further disclosed that besides the Wote land allocation, SEKU also owns 4,500 acres in Emali, earmarked for future satellite campuses. He assured that his administration would assist the university in planning, surveying, and processing land titles to fast-track the establishment of more learning facilities.
“We are ready to allocate more land if required. The Emali land is already registered under SEKU, and the county government will continue to support in ensuring all planning and documentation processes are completed,” Governor Kilonzo added.
The CUE evaluation marks a critical step in fulfilling the government’s policy of ensuring each county has its own university, raising hopes that Makueni will soon host its first institution of higher learning.
