Former Gatundu MP Moses Kuria has called for the renaming of the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) in honour of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
In a statement on Friday, October 17, Kuria said Raila’s contribution to technical education in Kenya inspired the proposal.
Kuria noted that the institution, previously known as The Kenya Polytechnic, has deep historical ties to the University of Nairobi, where Raila once taught.
“The Technical University of Kenya (TUK) previously The Kenya Polytecnic was once the Engineering wing of the Unoversity of Nairobi. Engineer Raila Odinga was not just a lecturer at UON School of Engineering. He was also an ardent believer in technical education since his days at Madelberg College in Germany,” he said.
Kuria went on to reveal that he had formally written to the Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, proposing the renaming.
“I have today written to Education CS Julius Ogamba requesting to rename Technical University of Kenya into Raila Odinga Technical University. If I was CS I would do it straight away,” he added.
This comes years after the Nairobi County Government, in conjunction with the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) renamed Mbagathi Road to Raila Odinga Way.
The brief event, held on Thursday, November 2, 2021, was led by former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.
According to reports, the renaming of Mbagathi Road to Raila Odinga Way wass meant to honor the former premier’s sacrifice and fight for democracy in the country.
This was among the recent roads that have been renamed in honour of Kenyan leaders.
Others include Accra Road which was renamed Keneth Matiba Road and Dik Dik Road which was renamed Francis Atwoli Road.
However, the renaming of Mbagathi Road to Raila Odinga has sparked division among Kenyans online.
While a section has questioned why the road had to be renamed after the former Prime Minister, others welcomed it, while taking note of his achievements as a leader.
“Why are we honouring thieves in this day and age by having Raila Odinga Way & Francis Atwoli Road? Thinking face These people have achieved nothing except dividing, impoverishing, and stealing from Kenyans. Why are we celebrating our captors, our oppressors, and our thieves in this day and age?” Nahashon Kimemia posed.
On the other hand, Abraham Mutai said, “Young Kenyans born in the 2000s will hate changing the Mbagathi way to Raila Odinga Way because most don’t read and are ignorant. Raila commissioned the construction of Mbagathi Way in 2005. It was constructed using concrete slabs, still going strong with no potholes or cracks 16 years later.”
