President Uhuru Kenyatta hit out at critics and senior government officials who are threatening public institutions and projects planned by his administration.
The president was speaking on Saturday, July 9, at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) in Kiambu County where he presided over the launch of the Level 6 hospital's catheterization laboratory.
Uhuru, who is set to leave office next month, sent subtle warnings at unnamed powerful individuals and stated that he was keenly watching those who were hindering government projects and looking to sabotage multinational projects.
"Kenya is a respected member of the global community and we are recognized as a very strong supporter of multinational institutions. We led UN-Habitat and UNEP nad that is why we want WHO here," Uhuru stated.
"You are claiming that this is your land yet this same land is owned by Kenyans. You want to hinder this project but I still have three more weeks in office, we shall deal with those individuals swiftly and effectively. I will go home with them," he warned.
He was also presiding over the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a World Health Organization (WHO) regional and sub-global emergency operations and logistics hub.
This comes amid a row between Kenyatta University (KU) and the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital (KUTRH) over the contested ownership of a 1,000-acre piece of land.
The decision by KUTRH to apparently split off 200 acres of the land in question to erect WHO headquarters is at the heart of the controversy. Currently, WHO offices are located inside the boundaries of the referral hospital.
Last week, the Standard quoted Vice-Chancellor Prof. Paul Wainaina who declared KU's opposition to the project stating that KUTRH neglected to contact the university regarding the project's use of 200 acres.
But KUTRH Chairperson, Prof Olive Mugenda, a former VC of KU, argued that the land in question belongs to the government.
Prof. Wainaina responded, stating that the University Council was in charge of keeping track of all the institution's assets, including the title deed to the property.
“We know the government owns the land but everyone knows KU got the individual title deed of the land. Even if it’s the government that wanted part of our land, the right procedure has to be followed and we were supposed to be communicated to,” he told the publication.
According to the VC, suspected security officers in plain clothes with the support of National Youth Service (NYS) troops invaded the property at 2am using bulldozers through the Northern Bypass and damaged a perimeter wall.
