Written By Lisa Murimi
Mama Ngina University College’s ambitious expansion plans have encountered a significant setback following a ruling by the Land Acquisition Tribunal.
The tribunal, chaired by Dr. Nabil Orina, has blocked the university’s attempt to acquire an additional 40 acres of land, which would have affected approximately 180 households in Mutomo village, Gatundu South.
Established in 2019 on a 10.3-acre plot, the university aimed to expand to accommodate its growing needs.
The National Lands Commission (NLC), representing the Ministry of Education, sought to acquire the land through a Special Gazette Notice.
The plan included compensation of at least Ksh10 million per 100x100ft plot (a quarter of an acre), though residents had sought Ksh16 million.
Local residents, whose ancestral lands were at risk, challenged the acquisition legally.
The tribunal criticized the Commission for University Education (CUE) and the NLC for failing to meet legal requirements and for not securing necessary funds for compensation.
Dr. Orina noted that the expansion did not align with constitutional or statutory criteria and highlighted the proximity of other major universities like Kenyatta University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
The Tribunal’s ruling declared the NLC’s acquisition notice invalid, halting the university’s expansion and setting a precedent for land acquisition processes.
The university’s management has yet to respond to the decision, leaving the future of their expansion plans uncertain.
