By Lynnette Nkathah
In the recent past, Tharaka Nithi People have been discussing in various social platforms on who will be the next County Governor. The name of Chuka University Vice Chancellor Prof Erastus Njoka has featured prominently.
This has intrigued me to start thinking who Njoka is in termed of development.
Without thinking much, let us see where he has brought the university from.
As we know, Chuka university is a public university located in Chuka town, Igambang’ombe constituency in Tharaka Nithi County. The university was established in 2007 as Egerton university Eastern Campus college.
The college was later accredited and commissioned into a fully fledged university in 2013 by the former President Mwai Kibaki.
Up to 2020, the university has expanded to five satellite campuses including Igembe Campus, Embu campus, Chogoria Campus, Tharaka Campus and Town Campus ( In Nairobi CBD)
Led by the son of their own, the campus has transformed the area and flourished outskirts with flats erected around the area to facilitate the housing of both students and university staff.
The presence of the university in the area has catapulted it’s development with major developments including the infrastructure, real estate, development of Chuka town and Ndagani Market Comparedouring the institution, which has since heightened boosting the business in the area.
Since 2007 when the campus started its operations, Chuka town has rapidly developed into a modern city with good infrastructure, housing and various mega businesses.
Compared to other universities of its stature, Chuka as achieved immeasurable development around it.
Construction of roads around campus and it’s outskirts has made the accessibility to the university easier and remarkably developing the town.
With Chuka University boasting a population of 20,000 students and nearly 3000 university employees, demand for housing heightened. This resulted to sprouting of real estate development in the area, with investors erecting flats targeting the massive population accelerated by the presence of university in the area.
Like in other parts of the world, an institution such as university in area provides employment opportunities to residents. Led by Njoka, the university has achieved the dame to the residents of Igambang’ombe constituency in Tharaka Nithi County.
With the effort of the VC, Tharaka University College was able to acquire its current status within a short time. This tells us the passion the VC has for the people of his county.
Ndangani Market happens to be one of the biggest beneficiary of the campus. The now furnished market serves as a trading hub, providing major services such as Mpesa and Matatu terminus and other important small businesses like food, vegetable and fruits vending.
With traders selling from foodstuff to clothes, footwear, beddings and just about everything, sustaining the students and other people living in the area.
Njoka is one of the larger Meru Leaders who has sought to unite the people of Meru Community.
He came up with the change of Tharaka Nithi name into Meru South to maintain unity of Community.
Having led Ameru Professionals for many years, Njoka has tried to advance the interests of his tribesmen with broader view.
The Njuri Ncheke Patron knows how to mingle and interract with his people to know their needs.
Tharaka Nithi can be lackiest ever to have him as their governor. In fact for them to lose him as a Governor in 2022, they will have lost Jesus for Barabbas.
Jesus!!! That was too much! These politicians are just cut from the same cloth. Good track records when out and some conniving self-satisfying squanders.
Maybe he is Jesus. Maybe….just maybe!
There are only few of his kind..
Politicians are all the same
Maybe