New Council appointed at Kenyatta University after land row with State House

A change of guard has been effected at the Kenyatta University following the dissolution of university council chaired by Prof. Shem Migo-Adholla and ouster of Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Wainaina.

The ousted council chairman had for weeks declined to surrender the university title deed to the Ministry of Lands for excision, insisting the institution had a long term development master plan covering every inch of the parcel.

The university now has a new council, chaired by Prof. Chrispus Kiamba, with Jane Wamoko, Carilus Odumbe, Maj. Gen (Rtd) Bashir Yussuf, Andrew Nyanchoga and Alice Muita as members.

Prof. Wainaina’s tour of duty at the institution was brought to an abrupt end with a new acting Vice Chancellor taking over.

This as Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha defended the Executive’s decision to hive off a chunk of the university’s land, as resolved by the Cabinet during a meeting held in May.

“The government can decide that the site of this school is good for a nuclear facility. Once it passes through the cabinet, who do you think you are not to follow? It does not belong to you. All lands belongs to the government,” Magoha said on Wednesday.

“Government owns everything, including the land that I am standing on… When the government pronounces itself in a manner that you feel is repugnant to you as a person, the most honourable thing is to walk away.”

The 410 acres excised from the university’s land is to be allocated to the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

Another 180 acres was allocated to the Kenyatta University Teaching, Research and Referral Hospital (KUTRRH) while 190 would facilitate resettlement of squatters at Kamae.

Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua had, in a series of letters early this month addressed to ousted VC Prof. Wainaina, directed him to hand the university’s title deed to the Ministry of Lands to facilitate its excision.

The council however declined to hand over the title deed, insisting the university had plans for the expansive parcel land.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has instructed its lawyers to move to court and block the new developments at Kenyatta University.

Kamae squatters, however, who for years have battled the university over the land, welcomed the Cabinet decision and celebrated the change of guard at the institution.