KIST students protest alleged grabbing of college land

Kiambu Jubilee Party Governor Nominee Ferdinand Waititu and the students of Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology(KIST) uprooting a beacon that had been erected on the land that belong to the school. PHOTO BY KAMAU MAICHUHIE.

Students of Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) held a demonstration to protest on Tueday against the alleged grabbing of the institute’s land.

Waving twigs and chanting slogans castigating those mentioned as being behind the alleged grabbing of the land, the students vowed to ensure it was reverted back to the institute.

The demonstration caused a huge traffic snarl-up on Kiambu road.

Uprroted beacons

Their action came after reports appearing in a local daily indicated the institute had lost its land to grabbers.

The students uprooted beacons that had been erected to sub-divide the land.

Newton Maina, one of the KIST students’ body representatives, said they were disappointed to learn the institute had not been registered under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training ACT (TVET) Act 2013 as required.

“This is unacceptable.We were so angry to learn that the institute has not been registered since it owns no land after it was taken away by some people. That now means our certificates will not be recognised. We shall not take that lying down, “said Mr Maina.

Appeal to Uhuru

The institute, which is located at the heart of Kiambu town, was founded by President Jomo Kenyatta and other leaders from the county in 1971.

The land was bought with money raised through fund-raisers.

The students appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and ensure the land reverted to the school.

“The foundation stone of this college was laid by founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the father of the current president. We are appealing to the President to intervene and ensure the school gets back its land. This will help to secure the legacy that the senior Kenyatta left,” said the students’ representative.

KIST’s Board of Management (Bom) Chairman Kamau Kariu said they were  following up on the matter to ensure the land reverted back to school.

He revealed they (BoM) and the trustees on Monday held a meeting at the Ministry of Education headquarters where the trustees maintained the land at the centre of the dispute belonged to them.

Kiambu Jubilee Party governor nominee Ferdinand Waititu who joined the students in the demonstrations, said as area leaders, they would not allow a few people to take away what belonged to the public.

“As far as we know, KIST and the land where it is built is public property.”