Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has revealed that the government will take back Kenyatta University's (KU) land that was allocated to World Health Organization (WHO).
Speaking on Friday, December 16, during KU’s 52nd graduation ceremony, the deputy president announced that the land had not been allocated legally.
He accused President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration of not being procedural when transferring the institution’s land.
“Early this year before the new administration came in, the previous one intimidated the university council and vice chancellor to allow the grabbing of Kenyatta University land.”
“These great men and women stood their ground and refused to surrender the land,” Gachagua remarked amidst cheers from the graduands.
Gachagua remarked that the land will be promptly returned to Kenyatta University.
“As a government, we have instructed the Ministry of Land to cancel those allocations and reinstate the land to Kenyatta University,” Gachagua revealed.
On August 2022, the Environment and Lands Court allowed the government to take up the 410 acres of Kenyatta University land.
The land was allocated to WHO (30 acres), Africa Centre for Disease Control (10 acres), and the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (108 acres).
Professor Paul Wainaina the university vice chancellor and the entire university council were sent home in what they claimed was their refusal to hand over title deed of the university for adjudication of the land.
Gachagua revealed that the VC was reinstated together with the council because they had done what was right.
“President William Ruto made a promise that once he gets elected, he will reinstate the university top leadership and that was fulfilled,” Gachagua remarked.
Kenyatta University reinstated Prof Wainaina on November 3, two months after Ruto was sworn in as president.
