Petition filed challenging location of Nyamira University announced by Ruto

Forty four petitioners have moved to court to challenge President William Ruto's decision to put up Nyamira University at Kiabonyoru.

The petitioners, led by Mugirango West MP Steve Mogaka, argue that the declaration by the Head of State was ill-timed and that it lacked proper and adequate public participation.

"I am seeking orders to compel Kisii University to resume programmes they were running in Nyamira because it will be highly discriminatory and in violation of Article 27 of the Constitution to snub the university programnmes and promise that we are going to establish a new university at a new site when funds will be available," Mogaka told Citizen TV.

Through their lawyer, Danstan Omari, the petitioners also argue that the decision to establish the varsity should be left to the Commission for University Education (CUE).

"We have included the Attorney General in the suit since she has now assumed office. She should explain to President William Ruto and the Cabinet that they do not have the legal powers to determine where a university will be established. That is the mandate of CUE," said Omari.

The petitioners also want the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate alleged mismanagement of funds over Ksh.100 million, which are said to have been allocated to set up a constituent campus of Eldoret University in Kiabonyoru.

"We have gone through the EACC Act and realised that there is sufficient evidence confirming misappropriation of the funds," stated Omari.

The development comes barely two weeks after President Ruto announced the plans during a public rally in Nyamira.