A day after Prof. Wainaina, the Vice-Chancellor, was dismissed for defying the president’s demands, the land dispute between President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Kenyatta University has taken a new turn.
This comes after the KU council, in defiance of a government decree, refused to turn up the titles to its holdings.
According to a statement made by the university council’s chair, Migot Adhola, the council will not transfer the land’s title as instructed by Joseph Kinyua, head of the public service.
Part of the statement states, “We like to inform you most respectfully, that we will be unable to accede to the request to the title deeds.”
The council added that they weren’t contacted prior to the choice being made to use a portion of their land for other reasons.
A day after KU vice chancellor Paul Wanaina called a meeting with the staff to advise them of the state directive, the development happened.
He made his decision to leave the university due to the land dispute public during the meeting.
He cried as he described the pressure and pull after the discoveries.
Adhola asserted that the state’s decision to take the land is unlawful at the same time.
Adhola pointed out that the institution had already made plans for the land and said they would be prepared to show why they needed every square inch of it.
“The university would have been able to demonstrate that it required every square inch of its current land,” Adhola stated. “If the due process of the law as foresaid been followed.”
According to him, “The council holds the reasoned position that such a decision cannot be properly made without the council’s involvement and consultation.”
As a public institution, Kenyatta University is required to fulfill the needs of the general public, according to Uhuru, who on Saturday criticized university administrators for their refusal to relinquish the land.
