PROF PAUL WAINAINA REMAINS A DOYEN OVER HIS STAND OVER KENYATTA UNIVERISTY LAND SAGA
Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Prof Wainaina
BY Jerameel Kevins Owuor Odhiambo
Worth Noting:
- As of now the position is that Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Prof Wainaina is sacked courtesy of his stand on the land tussle. The President on Saturday stated categorically castigated the Vice Chancellor though indirectly and stated that he still has three weeks in power and some people will go home with him.
- It took less than a week for the Prof Wainaina to be sacked. Kenyatta University Council Chairperson Prof Shem Migot Adholla and his entire council as well weren’t spared they faced the axe and were sacked.
- An order was made to the effect that the council cannot access Kenyatta University premise. This move was courtesy of the council refusing to cede part of the university land as directed by the state.
The annals of history decode great men and great women who did make their mark in their various spheres of influence. In Kenya you can talk about Prof Wangari Maathai, Tom Mboya, Jaramogi Oginga and JM Kariuki name them. Prof Paul Wainaina joins the list of those who will be remembered for standing true on principle. Let me get you a background to the whole issue.
Advocate Paul Wanga presents the history of the land issue in Kenyatta University. This is what he wrote: ‘I think Kenyatta University Management/ Council had difficulty to accept that in the year 2019 the National Government took over the multibillion Kenyatta University Teaching, Research and Referral Hospital (KUTRRH) to become an independent state agency. Come the year 2022, the National Government directs the Council to surrender the original title (mother title) to enable subdivision/excision of the land to the Ministry of Health strategic institutions and to the Kenyatta University Teaching, Research and Referral Hospital (KUTRRH). The letters (on surrender of the mother title) are addressed to the now suspended Vice Chancellor, Prof Paul Wainaina and they make reference to cabinet for approval. The University Council Chaired by Prod Shem Migot Adholla responded by clarifying how the Vice Chancellor has no powers to do what the Executive wanted the Vice Chancellor to do. I saw a lawyer’s handwriting in the letter. Correspondences are exchanged and a specific action is reiterated by the Executive. The Executive was determined and it has bulldozed its way to the land. In fact the bulldozers are already on the site. Poor Prof Wainaina is now suspended and the Council disbanded. The Executive vs Public University Councils.’
As of now the position is that Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Prof Wainaina is sacked courtesy of his stand on the land tussle. The President on Saturday stated categorically castigated the Vice Chancellor though indirectly and stated that he still has three weeks in power and some people will go home with him. It took less than a week for the Prof Wainaina to be sacked. Kenyatta University Council Chairperson Prof Shem Migot Adholla and his entire council as well weren’t spared they faced the axe and were sacked. An order was made to the effect that the council cannot access Kenyatta University premise. This move was courtesy of the council refusing to cede part of the university land as directed by the state. Interestingly, the state has been dealt a blow after the new council led by Prof Chrispus Kiamba declined to take up their new appointment.
Prof Wainaina, who attracted the wrath of President Kenyatta after declining to authorize the transfer of part of the university’s land to settle squatters, told the university community the Ministry of Education had demanded that the university avails the land which had already been subdivided by the Ministry of Lands with National Lands Commission said to have commenced the process of preparing titles. “We were called by the Ministry of Education, by our CS, who affirmed that the Cabinet had already reached a decision on the parcels of land to be subdivided,” Wainaina said in reference to the demand to cede 338 acres of university land. Other proposed allocations include 30 acres for the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa Centre for Disease Control (10 acres), and the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (108 acres). President Kenyatta launched an attack against Prof Wainaina during the launch of the WHO emergency hub on Saturday vowing to “retire with him” when he leaves office. The President accused the VC of frustrating government projects by “laying claim to public land”. Lawyer Wangila while commenting on the whole issue stated that: ‘There is just something stinking about this Kenyatta University Land Saga, I mean why would the government want to allocate random partners such land without involving the University Council? Why the fury letters with ultimatums from Kinywa. Why is the President so angry, even if the land has their name, I think there is procedure for such allocations.’
This whole issue puts governance in this country into a bad limelight. It shows that we are back to the dark ages when the word of President was law and anybody who dared to go contrary to the same was sacrificed. The impunity in this country continues to stink to the highest heavens definitely. The President seems that he is using force to make sure that what he wants is done as quick as possible. If at all the land belongs to him as lawyer Donald Kipkorir thinks why then do they have to ask for the mother title. That’s the big question.
Through this whole sage I choose to celebrate one Prof Wainaina who stood true to his word thus leading him to be sacked by the appointing authorities. This is what leadership is all about. He did demonstrate that those who have power should by all means adhere to the law in their dealings he refused to be part of an illegality. In his farewell speech he indicated that he was facing the axe for his position on the land issue which is hundreds of acres. To me he dared to be the Biblical Daniel. Long live Prof Paul Wainaina! Long live his courage! Long Live his Courage!
Jerameel Kevins Owuor Odhiambo is a law student at University of Nairobi, Parklands Campus.
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