Varsity clash with State over donated land

By Allan Kisia

A row is simmering between Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) and the Provincial Administration over land.

The Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) and Kakamega Rehabilitation School donated the land to the institution in August 2007.

MMUST says it was to get 12 and 64 acres from ASK and Kakamega Rehabilitation School.

However, local PC Abdul Mwasserah refutes the claim, saying the university was to receive six acres from ASK and 34 from Rehabilitation School.

MMUST wants to build a complex that will integrate with Bukhungu Stadium.

Advice and assistance

But the Provincial Administration insists it plans to put up public recreation facilities on the same land.

The university, in a letter to Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura, dated September 10, 2007, asked for advice and assistance to enable it take possession of the land.

Then in May 2008, the institution wrote to Mr Muthaura again, this time complaining it had not received any report from a committee chaired by the PC on the same.

It read in part: "With our current plans, time is running out."

The university also indicated it intended to begin programmes in School of Health Sciences and expand School of Business Management.

On June 23, the PC wrote to MMUST saying the Special Committee established by the Ministry of Lands agreed MMUST could only receive six and 34 acres.

Private developers

He wrote: "I am pleased to inform you that the Government has accepted the recommendations and has directed the Ministry to Lands to implement them accordingly."

But in a new twist of events, Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) now reads mischief in the allocation.

Union MMUST Chapter Secretary General Sammy Kubasu claimed President Kibaki directed that the university be given all the land, saying there was a plot to give the land to private developers.

"We have information that the land which has been taken away from us will be shared out by private developers," said Mr Kubasu who doubles as Uasu national chairman.

The PC has threatened to suspend the allocation process until the matter is resolved amicably.

 

 

Read all about: Agricultural Society of Kenya Kakamega Rehabilitation School

 

 

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