Nakuru County Governor Kinuthia Mbugua has challenged higher institutions of learning in the county to invest in research in order to address challenges facing the society.
Speaking at Egerton’s Njoro campus in Nakuru, the Governor said that through research students will be able to come up with solutions to problems facing the society.
The county boss indicated that the county is facing myriad of socio-economic challenges some of which can only be addressed through research.
Mbugua further called on the national government to invest heavily in the research sector in order to enable researchers and students explore their fields.
“I want to ask higher learning institutions to consider investing their money in research,” he said, adding that the county government is ready and willing to work with them to improve standards of education.
The Governor noted that his government has high priority for the education sector adding that measures are in place to ensure no child misses education.
In order to ensure no student stays at home because of lacking school fees, Mbugua said the county is considering increasing the bursary allocations.
Mbugua said that many students have benefited from the bursary and scholarships fund urging the needy students who have not applied for the funds to do so.
The county boss indicated that his government is closely working with the national government in order to make education accessible to all.
He observed that the constitution guarantees equal education to all people and that he is keen to ensure everyone has access to it.
On devolving the education unit, Mbugua said that the national government should increase resources to the counties to enable them handle the unit. He indicated that counties are not in a position to handle the sector at this time but can handle it if the national government increases funds.
At the same time, Mbugua wished success to candidates sitting national examinations this year asking them to exercise hard work and discipline.