The Great Lakes University of Kisumu has signed a Sh1.77 billion agreement with an American property firm to develop its infrastructure a head of planned expansion.
Vice Chancellor Prof Amadi Ndede has inked a memorandum of understanding with the Kenyan franchise of Glamart Properties Limited in a joint venture with Scenario Architects Limited to build a 100-bed teaching and referral hospital at Sh1 billion, Sh675 million 2000-unit student hostel and Sh100 million modern library on the varsity land.
The development is expected to help the university improve rank in trainings in medical sciences and community health and development in the region.
“Plans are at advanced stages and we are looking to break the ground at the beginning of next year,” said Prof Amadi.
The project, she said, will lift the quality of training and research, boosting the university’s position in the regional and international rank thus increased intake. The university projects to record a 25 per cent growth in student in population annual after the completion of the projects.
“The hospital is crucial to us because we want to strengthen and stamp authority in the medical sciences and even be able to launch others in the same line. Additionally, we want to be able to offer high technology healthcare to the public and help ease the strain on the public facilities,” she said.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital is the only public referral hospital in Nyanza, serving nearly 2000 patients daily.
Rents paid by students and medical fees collected by the university will go towards offsetting the loan advanced by the implementing partners before they are handed over to the university.
Further, the VC added, the university is pursuing other partnerships with NSF International to improve its physical and administrative standing and operations “so as to gain a competitive edge among leading institutions of higher learning.”
Professor Amadi was brought into university as a professional administrator by its Board of Trustees in March last year on a renewable five year contract.
The university whose main program is Community Health and Development has partnered with the county government to train community health volunteers who are viewed as crucial boost to the low-numbered health workers.
The university has also established a learning centre in Kisumu’s central business district to offer more 35 short courses that target the “numerous Form Four leavers who fail to secure university placements and professionals seeking to advance their skills.”
