BY FLORENCE SIMIYU

Residents of the Mt. Elgon area in Bungoma County have urged the national government to fast-track the completion of the Kapsokwony Medical Training College, a project that has stalled for more than seven years. They are appealing to the government through the office of their area Member of Parliament, Fred Kapondi, to intervene and ensure construction resumes immediately.According to the residents, the project was launched in 2018 with great promise and millions of shillings allocated for its development. However, progress has remained painfully slow, with only one building reportedly completed since its groundbreaking.

One of the residents, Robert Maruti, expressed frustration over the prolonged delay, saying the community had placed high hopes on the institution. He noted that many families expected the college to create education and employment opportunities for local youth.

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Residents say that after the construction of the initial structure, the site was abandoned and has since remained idle. What was once seen as a transformative project for the region has now become a symbol of stalled development.They argue that the delay has significantly affected students who had hoped to enroll at the institution. Many young people from the area continue to travel long distances to access similar training in other counties, increasing the financial burden on families.

Community members have now issued a two-week ultimatum to the authorities, demanding that construction works resume without further delay. They warned that continued inaction would deepen feelings of neglect among residents.

The locals also pointed out that other constituencies are benefiting from the establishment and expansion of medical training colleges, while Mt. Elgon appears to have been left behind in terms of development projects.They are now calling on the government and relevant stakeholders to prioritize the completion of the Kapsokwony Medical Training College, saying its operationalization would boost access to medical education, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth in the region.