Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor Prof Paul Wainaina resigns after an escalation of the land row after the president’s statements earlier about the land to be surrendered to the World Health Organization(WHO).
The secretary to the Cabinet Joseph Kinyua ordered the Vice-Chancellor to surrender the university’s title deed as the row between the institution on ownership of a 1,000-acre piece of land escalated with the to-be-developed hospital.
Prof Wainaina has apparently left the institution tendering his resignation under unexplained clear circumstances.
The Vice-Chancellor, addressed staff on Tuesday morning telling them “This is probably the last time you’ll see me addressing you as VC”.
This comes barely a week after President Uhuru Kenyatta castigated the university management for opposing plans to cede part of the learning institution’s land to the World Health Organization (WHO), as planned by the government to the WHO logistics hub (30 acres), the Africa Centre for Disease Control (10 acres), KUTRRH (180 acres) and resettlement of squatters of Kamae Settlement Scheme (190 acres).
The varsity and the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital have been warring over the land, with KU saying it was hived off without its knowledge.
VC Prof Wainaina earlier on said the idea to grant land to WHO was not in the best interest of the university as no consultations were done and they were not involved.
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| Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor Paul Wainaina leaves the KU Amphitheatre after addressing the institution’s staff on July 12, 2022 courtesy: Nderitu |
Yet President in his speech had hinted at dealing with some individuals who do not reason with the nation in mind, saying such managers should shape up and be ready to go home with him as he retires a month after his reign in office comes to an end.
“We have individuals who are very ignorant and behave as if they have never entered a classroom… they don’t understand that Kenya has never operated in isolation. We shall deal with those individuals swiftly and very effectively,” he said.
The WHO Emergency Hub will be completed in three years and the Kenyan government has allocated 12.4 hectares with a committed fund of $5 million (Sh600 million) for the investment.
Hence as these occurrences take shape the question is who is right? And who is wrong about the whole land situation that is appearing so solemn.
