Director KEMRI, Dr. Solomon Mpoke gesticulate explains a point to KEMRI Board of Management, Chairman, Dr. Edwin Muinga Chokwe (holding an ipad) and Board Member Dr. Peter Omboga during atour of the a section of land earmarked for the construction of the KEMRI University Campus and Research Station.

KWALE COUNTY, KENYA, THURSDAY, 12TH, JAN 2012: Kwale County may soon get the Country's first University purely dedicated to Health Research if a proposal by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) is realised.

Already, the residents of Kwale through their leaders headed by the area Member of Parliament who is also Trade Minister, Hon. Chirau Ali Mwakwere and officials from the Kwale Town Council have warmed up to the idea and have identified at least 100 acres of land towards the development of the proposed KEMRI University Campus and a Research Station.

KEMRI already has a presence in Kwale with the Centre for Microbiology Research (CMR) undertaking research within the county and neighbouring region for over two decades. The development of a University and the expansion of existing research activities would be music to the ears of Coastal region residents who are desirous to improve their education standards by setting up tertiary Institutions.

On Wednesday, January 11th, 2012, KEMRI Board of Management, Chairman, Dr. Edwin Muinga, Board Member, Dr. Peter Omboga and Director KEMRI, Dr. Solomon Mpoke were taken on a conducted tour of two sites the community is willing to donate to the Institute to accommodate the proposed University. Heading the tour was the Town Council of Kwale Chairman, Mr. Andrew Mulei, and eight other Town Council officials, among them Town Clerk, Mr. Mkare Jefwa and area Chief Ali Matsudzo.

The first parcel is situated in Lunguma Village of Golini Location within Matuga division about 15 Kilometers from Kwale town, while the other one is barely 11 Kilometers away in Magombani Village in Tsimba Division.

According to Mr. Mulei, the Town Council of Kwale, Minister Mwakwere and other area stakeholders held extensive discussions and concluded that KEMRI's proposal was not only a plausible, but would also transform the development of the area in a major way. He intimated that even as his council reaches out to other stakeholders within the region, the Institute is welcome to undertake the development of this important project. These sentiments were echoed by Mr. Jefwa, the Town Clerk who noted that the proposed University would be an achievement not only for Kwale, but also the entire Coast region.

Goleni-Nyugwani Councillor, Mr. Mwamumba Kityeke pointing to the boundaries of the second parcel of land identified by leaders of Kwale Town Council at Magombani Village, Tsimba location in Matunga Division where leaders propose the KEMRI University Campus and Research Station be located. Looking on are Director KEMRI, Dr. Solomon Mpoke (L), Mkare Jefwa, the Council Clerk (in checked shirt), Andrew Mulei, Council chairman (Second left) and KEMRI Board of Management, Chairman, Dr. Edwin Muinga Chokwe (holding an ipad).

While acknowledging the decision by the Kwale leaders, Dr. Muinga expressed his gratitude for their decision to consider working with KEMRI towards the realization of the development of KEMRI University Campus and a Research Station. "Education and Infrastructural Development are the cornerstone of Kenya's Vision 2030. Setting up a University here would bring enormous benefits not only to Kwale County but to the Coast Region and the entire country, in general", he said.

Dr. Muinga further pointed out that the proposed academic institution would be an expansion of the KEMRI Graduate School of Health Sciences (KGSHS) which has already initiated the process of acquisition of full University status.

Dr. Omboga who is in charge of the Infrastructure Committee within the board intimated that KEMRI would be eager to immediately begin construction once both parties have drawn an agreement and completed the necessary paper work.

On his part, Dr. Mpoke said that if granted the land, the Institute and her collaborators would work together towards realizing the funds necessary for its speedy construction of the KEMRI facility. He praised the leaders for participating in this historic meeting which will pave way for a project that would greatly alter the lives of the people of Kwale positively for years to come.

"On behalf of the Chairman of Board of Management, and staff of KEMRI, I wish to thank you most sincerely for indicating your willingness to cooperative with KEMRI in setting up a University and research station and demonstrating leadership that looks at the future of Kwale for the benefit of generations to come", he said.