Cherang’any MP Patrick Simiyu has stepped up his education push with a Sh10 million bus and a planned ICT hub for Cherang’any Technical and Vocational College (TVC).
Simiyu said the bus had been fully funded through his office and would support students and college activities without requiring parents to contribute.
“I made you a promise, and today I have come to fulfil that promise. I have brought you a bus,” Simiyu told students, staff and guests at the college.
He said the ICT hub, whose groundbreaking ceremony was held at the institution, would serve students and members of the public seeking digital services. Funding was already available, he said, allowing construction to proceed without additional fundraising.
The MP also announced Sh3.8 million for the college and plans to complete the constituency office at a total cost of Sh10 million.
Simiyu said the projects formed part of a wider education programme across Cherang’any, including school buses, classrooms, administration blocks and sanitation facilities.
He said his office was targeting two buses for each of Cherang’any’s seven wards, dismissing claims that distribution was based on tribal considerations.
“This is the second bus, not the first one,” he said of the bus delivered to Chepsiro Kiptoror Ward.
Simiyu also cited an eight-classroom storey building at Konga 6 Primary School, which he said cost Sh22 million, alongside other classroom and infrastructure projects.
On bursaries, Simiyu said his office had increased vetting centres to 25 in each ward and beneficiaries from about 700 to approximately 15,000 annually. He announced plans for a dedicated bursary category for Cherang’any TVC students alongside support for day schools, boarding schools and tertiary institutions.
“We must raise the standards of this college,” Simiyu said, urging parents to enrol their children in technical and vocational institutions.
Cherang’any TVC Principal Nebert Wafula said enrolment had risen five-fold from 85 to more than 400 students in three months following a grassroots recruitment campaign across the constituency’s seven wards.
Wafula attributed the growth partly to mobilisation support from Simiyu, saying the college had struggled to attract students before the campaign.
“I was sitting in the office for one whole year, hoping students would come, but they did not,” he said.
He said more than 100 students registered at Benon during the first recruitment exercise, pushing enrolment above 400.
Wafula said the new bus would help the college implement dual training programmes, which require students to split training between the institution and workplaces. The college is pursuing partnerships with Kapsara Tea Factory and businesses in Kitale and Eldoret.
“Now the trainers, the ball is in our court. The vehicle is here, fuel will not be a problem. We should be able to implement this dual training programme,” he said.
He said more than 480 students had completed examinations or had between one and three papers remaining, creating potential for up to 400 graduates.
Wafula said fees remained a challenge, with most students required to pay Sh5,000 to Sh7,000 in household contributions under the current funding model.
Simiyu also defended his management of constituency development funds, saying an audit had found Cherang’any among constituencies that had not misused the funds.
“We want service delivery without relying on tribalism or friendship,” he said.
With the 2027 General Election approaching, Simiyu said he expected all projects initiated under his leadership to be completed before voters go to the polls.
