KEWI Advances Plans to Establish Ainabkoi Campus
The Kenya Water Institute (KEWI) has welcomed and endorsed plans to establish a new campus in Ainabkoi Constituency, Uasin Gishu County, with the Governing Council and Management affirming that the proposal is feasible and aligned with the Institute’s long-term expansion plans and mandate. The endorsement follows extensive stakeholder engagement and a site familiarisation visit, during which Ainabkoi Member of Parliament Hon. Samuel Chepkong’a, CBSM, pledged to support the initiative, including renovation of the existing facilities and sponsorship of students who will form the inaugural cohort.
The proposed campus will be established at the current Brockley Primary School site, offering an opportunity to convert an underutilised public facility into a platform for technical and vocational skills development in water supply and management, plumbing, borehole drilling, irrigation, water infrastructure development and related fields.
The initiative first gained community attention through a public participation meeting at Brockley Primary School, bringing together 192 members of the public, local administration officials, members of the school’s Board of Management and community representatives. The engagement provided an opportunity for residents to consider the proposed conversion of the school and the relocation of its existing learners and teachers to another institution, subject to the guidance and approval of the relevant education authorities.
During the deliberations, stakeholders noted that enrolment at Brockley Primary School had declined progressively over the years, while the institution had no Junior Secondary School section because of low enrolment. Its six classrooms and other teaching resources were therefore significantly underutilised, raising questions about the sustainability of continued operation in its existing form.
The proposed KEWI campus was consequently presented as a means of putting the available public facilities and land into productive use while expanding access to practical skills. Community members expressed unanimous support, citing anticipated employment and business opportunities for local enterprises, including shops, kiosks, rental housing and other support services.
They also highlighted the potential for young people to gain practical skills that could enhance employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, particularly in water-related fields. Other anticipated benefits included improved infrastructure and public amenities, including roads, electricity and water, as well as more productive utilisation of public resources.
Security emerged as an important consideration because of the relatively isolated location. The community therefore resolved to seek Government support, through the Deputy County Commissioner, Ainabkoi Sub-County, for the establishment of a police post or Administration Police line at the site.
Following the community consultations, Hon. Chepkong’a formally approached KEWI seeking concurrence and approval for the proposed campus. He indicated that the school’s Board of Management had resolved to convert the institution into a college and outlined plans for the proposed 11-acre site, located along the Eldoret–Nyaru Highway. He further proposed mobilisation of resources towards a modern administration block incorporating ICT and water laboratories.
KEWI Director/CEO Dr. Leiro Letangule, EBS, welcomed the proposal, noting its alignment with the Institute’s long-term expansion plans. He called for further engagement involving the Governing Council, the area Member of Parliament and other relevant stakeholders to deliberate on the modalities and requirements for advancing the initiative.
The subsequent familiarisation visit by a KEWI delegation led by Governing Council Chairperson Hon. Patrick Musili Mbangula and Dr. Letangule, accompanied by members of the Council and Management, provided an opportunity to assess the proposed site and engage the Deputy County Commissioner, the MP, community representatives and school management.
The engagements affirmed the feasibility of the proposal and its consistency with KEWI’s mandate of providing specialised technical training. Hon. Chepkong’a reiterated his commitment to lead support for the initiative, including renovating the existing buildings ahead of the proposed opening and facilitating sponsorship for students from Ainabkoi Constituency.