Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor Paul Wanaina broke down on Tuesday as he narrated the land ordeal that had seen him get a public lecture from President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In a meeting that Professor Wainaina called to address the issue to his staff, he narrated how President Uhuru’s government was forcing him to donate hundreds of acres of land to among others, the World Health Organization.
Apparently, the Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua had instructed the university to surrender nearly half of its land.
He revealed that the government had asked the university to cede 410 acres but they refused.
“This is probably the last time I am talking to you as VC. I understand a new council is being formed,” he said amid tears.
Professor Wanaina read three letters from Kinyua, all sent last week, directing the university to surrender the title deeds by close of business Monday, July 11.
After his speech, he wept and was led outside the university amphitheatre after the meeting ended.
A few days ago, on Saturday, President Uhuru had publicly said that the professor was among people who behaved as if they never stepped in a class. The president had then vowed to deal with him swiftly and effectively for refusing to hand over the land.
“Bado nimebaki na wiki tatu(I am left with only three weeks), we shall deal with those individuals swiftly and effectively. Tutaenda nyumbani nao (We will go home with them). We can’t have people operating as individuals, we operate on behalf of the people. We operate on behalf of the global community which we are part of,” President Uhuru said.
According to the letters read by Professor Wainaina that were addressed to him by Kinyua, 30 acres will go to the WHO emergency hub while some will be donated to squatters. Another 10 acres will be donated to the Africa Centres of Disease Control.
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In the letters, Kinyua had said that 180 acres would go to the neighbouring Kenyatta University Teaching Research and Referral Hospital, which already sits on 100 acres donated by the university ten years ago.
Another 190 acres will now be given to the 10,000 squatters who already occupy the land illegally. This would reduce the university land from 1,000 acres to 590.