SALIENT SECONDARY CLOSED TO PAVE WAY FOR NYANDARUA UNIVERSITY LAUNCH

Salient Secondary School in Ol Kalou has officially been shut down to facilitate the establishment of Nyandarua County’s first public university. The move follows overwhelming support from residents during a public participation forum organized by the county government.

“This is a milestone for the people of Nyandarua,” said Governor Moses Badilisha. “For the first time, we will have our own university right here in Ol Kalou. Our students will no longer need to travel far to access quality higher education.”

About 400 students from Salient Secondary will be relocated to nearby schools. Local MP David Kiaraho assured that the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) will support the construction of additional classrooms to accommodate them. “No student will be left behind. We have put in place a plan to ensure a smooth transition,” he noted.

The university, launched in partnership with the University of Nairobi, will begin operations in September 2025. An initial 300 students will be admitted at the Salient campus, while another 300 will join the renovated Ol Jororok Agricultural Training Centre. It will start as a constituent college of UoN and offer degrees in Agriculture, Education, and Business Administration.

“We are following the required legal frameworks,” said University of Nairobi Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof. John Mande. “By August 18, the first group of students will report.”

Professor John Kimenju, the new principal, underscored the university’s focus on agricultural innovation. “We aim to support safe farming practices through research and empower local farmers through education,” he stated.