Over 180 Gatundu South Sub-county residents who signed contracts last month to give up their land for the expansion of the proposed Mama Ngina University in Gatundu, Kiambu County, are now accusing the government of compensation delays.
Residents of Mutomo village were expected to receive at least Sh10 million each in the current fiscal year to help fund the varsity’s expansion. The affected people claim they have attempted to reach out to relevant agencies, including the National Lands Commission (NLC) and the Education Ministry, but have been unsuccessful.
“The appointed land owners’ representatives have been following up on payments from the NLC and the University and up to date, there has been no payment made,” Harun Gacheru Ngochi, the chairman of the Mutomo Landowners association says in a letter dated June 7 to Education Cabinet secretary George Magoha.
The residents now claim that the delay has complicated their relocation plans because they had begun negotiating with land sellers in other areas but are now unable to complete the transactions. Residents have between 15 and 30 days to vacate their premises after receiving compensation.
Residents, according to Mr Ngochi, are now questioning whether they were duped into agreeing to vacate with no financial backing.
Prof Magoha did not respond to numerous Business Daily inquiries by press time on Friday and Monday. After lengthy negotiations to acquire the land, the NLC reached a long-term agreement with Mutomo residents in mid-May.
Each landowner was to be compensated Sh10.1 million for a 100 by 100 plot, as opposed to the Sh16 million target.
The highest land owner, according to NLC records, will receive up to Sh35 million.
On Friday, NLC acting CEO Kabale Arero Taches stated that her office had completed verification and was awaiting funds from the Education Ministry, implying that the onus is now on Magoha’s office.
“The Commission requested funds from the Ministry of Education and we are still waiting,” Ms Taches told the Business Daily in an interview.
“Once funds are available, we have finalized the compensation process and we shall disburse to the respective (PAPs) project affected persons,” she added.
In a gazette notice, the NLC sought to acquire land parcels for the university’s expansion on behalf of the Ministry of Education.
In 2018, the Commission for University Education (CUE) authorized the establishment of Mama Ngina University College, which will be mentored/shepherded by Kenyatta University.
It is a constituent college of Kenyatta University (KU) named after the former First Lady, who is also President Uhuru Kenyatta’s mother.
Mutomo, Ichaweri is a small village on Kenyatta Road in Gatundu South that is home to two Kenyan presidents: the current President Uhuru Kenyatta and his father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
On July 16, 2021, Prof Magoha visited the site in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s home county and announced that the institution would admit its first 90 students in September.
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