Court halts plan to turn Adai Boys’ High and Ressio Primary into a university
By Wycliffe Kipsang, October 14, 2025Hopes for the establishment of a university in Nandi County may be delayed after the High Court barred the conversion of Adai Boys’ High and Ressio Primary school into a university campus.
The court granted the petitioners, Lily Kigen, Julius Kipkemboi Ngetich and six others, their prayers under a certificate of urgency, stopping the Ministry of Education from relocating the institutions in Aldai Sub-County.
In a letter dated September 18, 2025, the Ministry of Education issued a directive to the schools’ management to commence closure of the learning institutions to pave the way for the establishment of the proposed higher institution of learning.
The directive signed by Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok in reference to the respective resolution made in previous stakeholder meetings, the schools’ Board of Management (BOM) were ordered to commence the relocation of learners by the end of the year.
Serem Boys’ and Kemeloi Boys were identified as ideal institutions within the locality to temporarily accommodate the learners.
Justice J. Chigiti sitting at the Milimani High Court Nairobi warned that any disobedience or non-observance of the order will result in penal consequences.
“Under this authority, any official or agent is barred from relocating or close or convene or implement the said decision through any other means or interfere in any manner whatsoever with Aldai Boys’ High School and Rosio Primary School,” ruled Justice Chigiti.
Court halts the process
However, the court has stopped the relocation process and ordered the ministry to permit the smooth running and management of Aldai Boys High School and Ressio Primary School.
During President William Ruto’s visit to Nandi last year, the residents confronted him with the demand of having the university within the municipality of Kobujoi, the town headquarters of the constituency.
Kaimosi Friends University was proposed to take the facilities and convert them to lecture halls at the beginning of next year.
Ngetich, a parent and also one of the petitioners, claimed that the parents invested in developing the institutions for years, and the sudden relocation of the learners to other schools will be detrimental to their academic performance.
“We used the legal process to protect the rights of the learners. The decision of relocating Adai Boy’s High School was made at the expense of our children, and this does not mean that we don’t want development in our community,” Ng’etich stated.
Ng’etich accused political leaders of pushing the project, claiming the concerns of education stakeholders were not considered despite a series of public participation and consultative meetings that were convened by the Ministry of Education.
Sally Melly, a businesswoman at Kobujoi market, said that the university institution is promising to the area, and it is expected to spark economic development.
“We will have a ready market for our commodities and general development, including the road networks. We have many primary and secondary schools all over, and we support the conversion of the secondary and primary schools to a university institution that will be of great impact to us,” Melly said.