Ol-kalou: There was a standoff at Kaptein area in Ol-Kalou Constituency of Nyandarua County when two opposing groups clashed over proposal for the construction of Nyandarua University at the site. A groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of new Salient Secondary School that was to be graced by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos aborted and was paralyzed for the better part of the morning when rival factions engaged in heated arguments over the issue.
According to Kenya News Agency, one of the factions wanted the site to be reserved for the proposed campus while another bitterly contested the plans preferring the area be reserved for former Salient High School grounds. Protestors barricaded Ol-Kalou-Gilgil roads opposing the construction of the New Salient Secondary School, claiming the initial plan was to construct the Nyandarua University. Police were forced to use tear gas canisters to disperse the demonstrators who had blocked the entry to Salient Secondary School where the event was planned to take place.
Nyandarua County Commissioner Abdilasaak Jaldesa while speaking to the press on Friday said there was nothing to halt the process which he described as a National Government Project. He noted that the protestors were acting without prior information of the progress made to realize the establishment of the university. However, Nyandarua County Women Representative Faith Gitau led MPs Njuguna Kiaraho (Ol-Kalou), Kwenya Thuku (Kinangop) and their Ndaragwa Counterpart George Gachagua maintained the meeting would go on even without the CS Julius Migos who was represented by Central Regional Director for Education Sabina Aroni.
The leaders underscored the need to appreciate the government for establishing the Nyandarua University and also agreeing to hive part of land from Salient Secondary where the institution would be constructed. Already, at least 90-acre piece of land has already been set aside for the university, while the remaining part would be used to construct the new Salient Secondary school. The leaders termed this as a blessing since residents will have the two institutions of learning fully funded by the National Government.
Nyandarua County Commissioner Abdilasaak Jaldesa affirmed that no one would be allowed to sabotage government projects, maintaining that the two institutions would still go on as planned. He took issue with youths who had been hired to disrupt the Friday meeting, saying that they were acting out of ignorance since both the projects are meant for their own good and intended to spur economic growth and development.