Update 17:01pm : According to the university, a new council has been formed and they held a meeting after the old one was dissolved. Kenyatta University's communications department stated that they have not received official communication on the alleged firing of Prof. Paul Wainaina.
The university stated that Prof Wainaina has not resigned either.
Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor, Paul Wainaina, hinted that he has been relieved of his duties.
Wainaina told students that he was being pushed out and the University Council had been dissolved for refusal to cede land for the World Health Organization project.
Multiple reports indicated that Prof Wainana spoke to the university staff and students on Tuesday, July 12, where he informed them that this might be the last time he was addressing them as the Vice Chancellor.
This comes amid a backlash by President Uhuru Kenyatta who called out the university management for opposing plans to cede part of the institution’s land to the World Health Organization to build the Ksh600 million emergency hub that would cater for its regional operations.
Kenyatta University had complained that the WHO emergency hub was to be constructed without the university’s permission and the 200 acres where the hub was to be constructed were already set aside for other development projects.
During the commissioning of the WHO emergency hub, President Kenyatta snappily slammed those opposed to the hub project arguing that the land belongs to Kenyans and not individuals.
"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.
Kenyatta University (KU) and the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital (KUTRH) were embroiled in a feud over the ownership of the 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.
Prof Wainaina who declared KU's opposition to the project stated 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.
