Reinstated KU boss vows to fight varsity ‘enemies’

Suspended Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor Prof Paul Wainaina yesterday resumed his duties at the main campus with a promise to rectify the wrongs of his ‘oppressors’.

At the centre of his untimely exit months, ago was his reluctance to provide 410 acres of the university land, which was to be divided into four sub-plots where the World Health Organisation was to get 30 acres, Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention was to get 10 acres while Kenyatta University, Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) and Kamae Settlement Schemes were to get 180 and 190 acres of land, respectively.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Cabinet had, in a letter titled Replanning of Kenyatta University Land (LR. NO:11026/ GRANT 33404), resolved to approve the allocation of land for strategic interventions under the Ministry of Health.

“The decision was premised not only on the fact that KU is holding large tracts of unutilised land but more strategically because the planned interventions have a nexus to KU’s academic and research programmes to invariably create a synergetic relationship to the benefit of the university as a whole,” the letter signed by Joseph Kinyua, former Head of Public Service said.

But Wainaina, a former primary school teacher, who joined the institution in 2005 as a member of the Academic Board, rejected the call, insisting that the land had been earmarked for strategic developments by the university in future.

While addressing university staff after his return yesterday, jovial Wainaina maintained that the existing procedure for the government to acquire KU land was not followed, saying he cannot and will not allow unprocedural allocation of the public land to other Government agencies.

Wainaina, who described his return as gigantic and his being alive as a miracle, regretted that his hard stance almost cost his life. Reports indicate that even after being out of office, Wainaina had to go into hiding as he was allegedly being hunted by unknown persons who used to track him using his phone. “For me to be here today and alive is a miracle. I knew the vehemence that was coming after taking my stand but now that the giant is back, I promise to do the right thing for the best interest of the university,” he said.

Former regime

Wainaina upheld that the manner in which the former regime wanted the KU land was almost similar to land grabbing.

“There is no reason for us to just cede land that we have already planned for to expand the university and even put-up other facilities that are urgently required here,” Prof Wainaina said.

He added: “ That land is still intact and the title deed is with us, we had a plan for what we wanted to do with the land. The most shocking thing is that bulldozers in July invaded our land where 140 acres were taken by government officials disguised as squatters, we won’t tolerate land grabbers.”

He further emphasised that he would push for the return of KUTRRH, which he said was taken away from the institution four years after construction.

“We constructed the KU hospital up to the end before it was taken from us four years later. They only inherited our name and that alone is evidence that the hospital is ours and we want it back. Just like God intervened for me to be back, we will work hard to also reclaim the hospital,” he added.

He regretted that while the hospital has the best state-of-the-art facilities that can be very resourceful, especially to medical students, KU students have been struggling to undergo practical lessons in a facility likened to a dispensary.

 In a statement signed by Prof Paul Okemo, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor administration, deputies around Wainaina’s exit had been solved. “Following the settlement of previous disputes about the leadership of Kenyatta University, Prof Wainana has been reinstated,” Prof Okemo said in a memo to staff.

A section of KU students welcomes Prof Wainaina’s return, who termed his it as a shot in the arm in the realisation of better operations.

Led by Thiong’o Muiruri, the student’s association secretary general, the students vowed to work with Wainaina to reclaim KU hospital, which they have not been accessing for specialised training.

“This is a moment that we have all been waiting for as comrades. Our students have been suffering for a long time but with Wainaina’s return, we believe things will get back to normal.

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