Tharaka University senate in collaboration with education stakeholders in Tigania East constituency have unanimously agreed to establish a pioneer university campus at Koonju in Meru County.
The groundbreaking ceremony is set for June 26, 2026 when education stakeholders are expected to converge and witness the opening of the first ever university campus in the region.
The decision was made unanimously by the university Senate after a meeting with local leaders led by the Tigania East MP Mpuru Aburi.
“This is a historic milestone for our people and a major boost to higher education, youth empowerment, and economic growth in the Nyambene region,” said MP Aburi.
He said the institution is the pioneer university campus in the region.
The lawmaker lauded Tharaka University Vice Chancellor Prof. Peter Muriungi and the entire university Senate for agreeing to open the campus in the constituency.
He said he is optimistic that the new campus will transform the region both economically and socially thus uplifting the living and academic standards of the residents.
“Let me assure you that the entire Meru community will benefit including Meru and Tharaka Nithi county residents. In order to improve education standards in the area, I urge all the education stakeholders to fully support the institution,” said MP Mpuru.
He advised residents to embrace and support the locally based institutions of higher learning since they offer similar academic studies just like those from far.
“Residents should not go far again in search of universities. Those at Nairobi university study the same subjects, courses and syllabus just like those who will join the Muthaara campus. Even those from Tharaka Nithi County should embrace exchange programme by enrolling for courses at Muthaara campus. Am fully determined to uplift the education standards in the constituency,” noted the Tigania East MP.
He called on parents to support their children education by enrolling them at the institution.
“We shall continue supporting the campus in order to ensure our children get access to higher education. The construction of Muthaara KMTC is almost complete. Education is the key to success because it positively transforms life,” said MP Aburi.
Residents who attended the function unanimously welcomed the project terming it historical since it the first university campus to be established in the area.
They said it will transform the entire region and not only Muthaara ward.
They challenged investors to construct hostels, hotels, shops and other social amenities for lecturers, staff and students who will join the institution once it becomes operational.
They said lecturers will be renting houses in the nearby towns before locals builds theirs.
The campus will bring higher education closer to students in Tigania East and surrounding areas, cutting travel costs and making university more accessible.
Education stakeholders thanked Vice Chancellor Prof. Muriungi, the University Senate, and MP Aburi for their commitment to the project, calling it a step forward for youth and community development in Nyambene.
Course details and enrollment timelines are expected to be announced ahead of construction.
A Campus, a date, and a long-held dream for Nyambene region
For decades, students from the Nyambene region have made the long, expensive journey to Nairobi city (University of Nairobi) , Kisumu city (Maseno University), Juja town (Kenyatta University, Nakuru town (Egerton University, Meru town and beyond just to sit in a university lecture hall.
That journey, local leaders say, is about to get shorter, cheaper, convenient, family friendly enjoyable and affordable.
The announcement turned what had been years of quiet lobbying into something concrete for families across Tigania East and the wider Nyambene region.
“Today we held a productive meeting with the Senate of Tharaka University to deliberate on the establishment of the Tharaka University Nyambene Campus,” said Tigania East MP Mpuru Aburi after the meeting. “I am pleased to report that the Senate unanimously agreed to establish the campus at Koonju.”
For Aburi, the decision is more than a policy win. It’s personal.
He has spent much of his time in office pushing for closer access to higher education, arguing that distance and cost keep too many bright students out of lecture halls.
“This is a historic milestone for our people and a major boost to higher education, youth empowerment, and economic growth in the Nyambene region,” he said.
The university leadership echoed the milestone. Vice Chancellor Prof. Muriungi and the Senate set the groundbreaking for 6th June 2026, giving the project a firm timeline.
Education stakeholders in the area say the campus will change daily life for hundreds of households.
“Special thanks to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Peter Muriungi, the University Senate, and Hon. Mpuru Aburi whose support and commitment towards this vision continue to inspire many. I also appreciate his friendship and dedication to education and community development,” said a stakeholder.
A campus in Tigania East means students can study closer to family, reduce costs, and stay connected to their communities while they learn.
Local traders and boda boda riders also expect a ripple effect.
University campuses tend to bring small businesses, rental demand, and part-time work for youth.
For a region where agriculture dominates, the hope is that the campus will diversify opportunities and keep young talent closer to home.
The choice of Koonju was not accidental. Community leaders and MP Aburi have been positioning the area as a central point for the Nyambene region because it is accessible to students from Tigania East, Tigania West, and neighboring areas.
From vision to ground-breaking
The 6th June 2026 date gives the community eight months to prepare.
The MP hailed the university leadership and all stakeholders who have supported the vision, signaling that the next phase will require continued collaboration between the university, county government, and residents.
For many parents in Koonju, the news is the first time the idea feels real.
“We’ve talked about a university here for years,” said one parent who attended the announcement. “Now we have a date. That changes how we plan for our children.”
If construction starts on schedule, the first students could be walking into lecture halls at Koonju by 2027.
For a region that has waited long for closer access to higher learning, that’s more than a campus. It’s a shift in what’s possible.
