University breathes life to Juja village, opens region to investments

Years ago, the sprawling Witeithie village in Juja, Kiambu County was a low-key business centre with a few retail shops and small rental houses.

People only knew of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) which is kilometres away from the informal settlement.

The establishment of the busy Thika Superhighway however began giving the village a new face paving the way for the establishment of high-rise buildings that are now home to hundreds of students studying in various colleges in Thika and Juja.

However, the establishment of a new campus in the village by Zetech University has further accelerated the growth of Witeithie which is now estimated to be home to over 80,000 residents.

Private developers, retail shopkeepers, hotels, clubs and other entrepreneurs are now celebrating a drastic increase in their clientele following the establishment of the varsity which has been cited as a key development trigger.

According to businesspersons within the village, their stocks are now moving faster and can now enjoy increased profits following an increase in the population of the area that has been facilitated by the establishment of the private institution.

Residents led by Rebecca Njeri, Kelvin Kibugi and Anthony Kamau noted that the establishment of the university has opened up investment channels for small-scale traders who are now enjoying more profits.

“This is how Juja town experienced significant growth because of JKUAT. Witeithie is rapidly growing and attracting hoards of investors. We can attest that our businesses have immensely grown thanks to students who study at this institution,” Kibugi said.

They described the institution as key and transformative saying that it has not only employed locals but has also begun training learners from poor backgrounds.

“Landlords are the major beneficiaries because the over 5,000 students at the University have sought accommodation in the buildings that were previously unoccupied,” Kibugi noted.

Their sentiments were echoed by Witeithie Ward MCA Mwibiri Wa Ngugi who noted that the village which has been lagging behind on matters of development has lately received significant expansion including the establishment of key amenities.

He noted that the varsity has been imperative in improving the cleanliness of the populous village, employment of locals and training of learners from poor backgrounds.

“The University has played a pivotal role in restoring sanity in Witeithie. We have conducted joint initiatives including free medical checkups, drugs awareness campaigns, training for local administrators among others, which are aimed at supporting the community,” Mwibiri said.

In a recent interview, the University Vice Chancellor Prof Njenga Munene affirmed that the institution will continue partnering and collaborating with the community and offering support to address some of the challenges faced in the village.

“We are deeply committed to engaging with and supporting our communities. During the recent floods early this year, Zetech University extended a lifeline to over 150 families by providing essential items such as foodstuffs and blankets. We also partnered with local healthcare practitioners to offer free eye clinic services to over 2,000 residents in the Witeithie area,” he said.

 Prof Munene added, “ In an effort to impact the society around us, we also partnered with the sub-county government of Juja and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to educate locals on the hyena menace in the area. These efforts reflect our belief in using our resources to create a positive societal impact.”

According to John Mwai, the head of marketing at the institution, Zetech has set aside Sh 10 million, an annual fee that goes to the training of bright and talented children from less privileged homes.

Mwai called for enhanced collaborations between well-wishers to uplift the lives of youngsters, most of whom end up failing to secure education due to financial constraints.

"We are partnering with the community to eradicate some of the social ills that bedevil the society including drugs, alcoholism and petty crimes. We support local talents and also assist youths undergo short courses that are of significant impact in their lives,” Mwai said.