Moi University Vice Chancellor Prof Isaac Kosgei has revealed that the leasing of 1, 500 acres of the 3, 000 acres by the institution earlier this year was part of the directive from the Office of the President.
The VC of the Kesses Based institution speaking on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at the National Assembly where he appeared before the National Assembly’s Public Investment Committee on Governance and Education chaired by Bumula MP Jack Wamboka over what the Member of Parliament termed as “irregular lease of half of the institution’s land to a private investor” revealed that the directive was made through Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.
“We got a directive from the Office of the President through Head of Public Service Felix Koskei that we surrender all the land that was being underutilised. Following the directive, we convened the council meeting and they approved,” he said.
The land in question has been ploughed by the unnamed developer, who has not paid a coin to the university.
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Kosgey told the Committee that the institution is yet to receive a penny for the five and a half-year deal despite the developer taking ownership and had already tilled the land ready to plant.
In the agreement, Moi University was to be paid a sum of KSh16, 500 per acre annually, translating to KSh24.7 million for one year.
For the five and half years of the lease period, the company was to pay slightly over KSh120 million.
The narrative by the VC however, was disputed by the MPs who revealed there was lack of transparency in the deal while accusing the VC of protecting the investors.
The Committee chairperson Jack Wamboka demanded full disclosure on the directors behind the company.
“Is it normal for a policy issue to cover only one or two universities? You have been a VC since 2018; you cannot say you are not aware of the directors of the company,” he said.
At the same time, Central Imenti MP Moses Kirima accused the VC of misleading the committee and disclosing that the leasing came way before the tendering process.
He also demanded the faces behind the company unmasked so that the people can know the real culprits behind what they see as “the grabbing of the university land”.
The committee saw Kilome MP Nzambia Kithua storm out of the meeting, who said he cannot withstand “lies” from the VC.
By Vostine Ratemo
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