'Downgrading Mama Ngina university is bad move'

Mutomo villagers accuse area MP Gabriel Kagombe of orchestrating a plan to downgrade Mama Ngina University into a TVET. [Fidelis Kabunyi, Standard]

Mutomo villagers in Gatundu South, Kiambu County are up in arms after it emerged that the government, through some local leaders want to downgrade Mama Ngina University into a Technical and Vocational Education and Training Centre (TVET).

The locals, who were set to benefit from the project by putting up rental houses and establishing small businesses that would serve students and university staff, accused area MP Gabriel Kagombe of orchestrating the plan with the Education Ministry to advance certain political interests.

Angry Mutomo villagers claim a scheme has been arranged to devalue retired President Uhuru Kenyatta's leadership under whose tenure the university was established.

Led by Long John, an elder member of the Mutomo community, the furious residents allege Kagombe has already initiated the process of downgrading the institution to a TVET yet the constituency has three such institutions.

"We are informed our MP who is here with us met Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu and discussed the plan to make the university a TVET. We want to tell him that we as the Mutomo residents oppose such kind of move," said John while addressing a charged crowd on Sunday at Mutomo shopping centre. However, the MP denied advancing such a plan insisting that financing by the government is to blame for the delayed completion of the project.

The lawmaker promised to push for inclusion in the supplementary budget of Sh2.2 billion needed for compensation of the 186 affected landowners.

The residents at the same time expressed disappointment that the majority of them are yet to be compensated after surrendering their land to pave way for expansion of the university.