Blow to Kenyatta University in Land Transfer Drama

A collage image of President Uhuru Kenyatta (LEFT) and Prof Paul Wainaina (RIGHT).
A collage image of President Uhuru Kenyatta (LEFT) and Prof Paul Wainaina (RIGHT).
COURTESY

Kenyatta University suffered a setback in its bid to block the government from hiving off its 410 acres of land for a special project.

While delivering the verdict, Justice Oscar Angote, differed with the institution noting that the government had good intentions in taking over the land.

The judge argued that the government project could not be halted, thus ordering Thika Superhighway-based institution to surrender the land to the government.

The state had asked the University to surrender part of the land to Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital (KUTRH), the World Health Organisation and squatters in the area.

Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Prof Paul Wainaina
Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Prof Paul Wainaina
File

The government of Kenya through President Uhuru Kenyatta had donated 200 acres of KU land to WHO to build a state-of-the-art emergency hub on the continent.

Speaking during the launch of the construction works of the facility, Uhuru defended the government's decision to award the global health organisation government land and Ksh500 million.

Uhuru argued that the facility would put Kenya on the global map.

Following the decision, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) had moved to court to block the subdivision of the land.

LSK, in its submission, argued that the process of forcing KU to subdivide the land was illegal.

"The process was illegal from the beginning as pointed out by the university council chairman that the government cannot acquire the land without their consent. That is why the university was justified to resist the draconian and impunity takeover," LSK stated.

The saga also KU Vice-Chancellor Paul Wainaina suspended. 

The initial statement from the KU Chairman of Council, Chrispus Kiamba, noted that Wainaina had been replaced by Waceke Wanjohi, who would be the acting VC until a substantive VC is recruited.

Wainaina however, retained his seat following a court ruling handing him a lifeline in the institution's leadership.

File image of Kenyatta University
File image of Kenyatta University
Media House Credit
  • .