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Embattled Moi University Vice Chancellor Prof Isaac Kosgey shocked the National Assembly Committee on Lands that a prime 1,500 acres of the 3,000 acres of land owned by the institution has been leased to a private investor to tune of Sh24. 7 million per year.

The VC told the committee led by North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko that the contract signed between the institution and the faceless investor for the utilisation of the disputed property is to run for five years.

Kosgey dismissed as land speculators, a group of squatter families who have laid claim to the 1,500 parcel of land saying that they were strangers to the Moi university community.

“We do not know these people calling themselves Nigeria squatters and in fact  I am hearing about them for the first time in this parliamentary committee session,” stated Kosgey when he appeared before the committee sitting at an Eldoret hotel

The squatters, numbering more than 300, are embroiled in a tussle with the university management over the ownership of the prime parcel of land they claim belongs to them..

 The committee members among them the Vice chairperson Jane Kihara who is also Naivasha MP  had accused the VC of irregularly leasing half of the university land to a private investor.

They took Kosgey to task on why he was hiding crucial information and documents to the committee related to the disputed parcel of land and yet he was the head of the public institution. Kosgey shocked the committee by telling them that he did not have the proper documentation needed in the matter.

President’s directive

 “Kindly give more time to look for the documents that you are requesting because I did not carry them along with me when I came for this sitting,” said Kosgey.

 When pressed further on the lease of parcel of land  issue, Kosgey said that the decision to lease a section of land was a directive made by the President’s office through the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.

“Honourable chair , we got directive from the office of the President through the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei that we surrender all parcel of land was under-utilised and that is why we convened a council meeting to approve the leasing of 1,500 acre land to a private investor,” explained Kosgey.

He said that they were looking forward to generating enough revenue from the venture to run some of their core programmes and, besides, meet their financial obligation at the institution.

According to the VC, for the five years of the lease period, the private investor will pay the institution close to Sh120 million.

The Committee members in a resolution directed the VC to ensure the private investor stops any activities on the parcel of land until they are furnished with all the documents surrounding the leasing of the property.