By Kamau Njoroge
The government’s plan to reduce Mama Ngina University in Mutomo village, Kiambu County to a Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) institute has been met with protests by locals.
The locals are claiming that the government is using local leaders allied to the current administration to advance the move to downgrade the University, which is a brainchild of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The residents believe that the plans being orchestrated by the leaders and officials from the Ministry of Education is one of the major onslaughts by the current regime towards projects and policies initiated by the former President.
At a public participation meeting in Mutomo village on Sunday, they pointed an accusing finger towards area Member of Parliament (MP) Gabriel Kagombe, who they said is spearheading part of the plan meant to advance certain political interests and disregard Uhuru’s efforts to develop the region.
“This University was established during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure in office and he meant well for us. But some people are busy fighting and overturning his decisions, projects and policies. We will not allow this ill-advised move to advance,” said resident Long John.
The residents noted that if the government succeeds in downgrading the institution, the locals will be robbed of the opportunity to reap big noting that most of them had already started putting up housing facilities to be used by students.
“We were hopeful that the university would trigger massive developments in this region and that our economy would boom. It has created opportunities to open up small businesses to serve the students and university staff but some individuals somewhere are busy crafting how they will deny us this noble opportunity,” he said.
They claimed that they are privy to information that their MP has already met with Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu over the matter.
“Should their plot materialize, the development projects that would have sprouted in the area as a result will be diverted to other regions. It’s a sad affair,” said resident Monica Kimani.
The locals are also aggrieved by the prolonged delay of their compensation despite agreeing to give their land for the university expansion.
In a deal brokered by the National Land Commission in May last year, some 180 residents who had ceded their land parcels were to receive Ksh 2.2 billion from the government as compensation for their land and properties.
In the deal, the beneficiaries were to be paid between Ksh 10 million and Ksh 35 million per plot, depending on the developments therein.
“Most of us acquired loans from financial institutions and other lenders to purchase land parcels elsewhere for relocation because we had been made to believe that we would be compensated on time. The lenders are now on our necks and the government is still taking us in circles,” said another resident, Kariuki Kimani.
Mutomo Land Owners Association Chairman Harun Gacheru said they were to be paid within three months after signing the awards in May last year.
Gacheru however upheld that locals were ready to wait even longer if the government has no money to compensate them at this time but were opposed to the plan of downgrading the university.
However the MP who had attended the meeting denied advancing such a plan saying lack of financing by the government is to blame for the delayed completion of the project.
The MP said the government will, through a supplementary budget, allocate funds to both compensate locals and expand the varsity.
“We are looking for ways to have the compensation money budgeted for so that our people can be compensated and also facilitate completion of the project,” he said.
