Joy as an education institution gets land
Murang’a
County Assembly has allowed the executive to lease 50 acres of land at Kenyatta
Maririra Farmers Training Centre to Murang’a University of Technology (MUT) to
establish agriculture and environmental science.
The
assembly approved recommendation by the land committee that to lease the land
located in Kigumo constituency to MUT for 99 years.
The
committee chaired by Gerald Wambugu said the university furnished the executive
with details pertaining need for land for the establishment of the agriculture
campus.
In
the lease agreement, the county government observed that the farm has 140 acres
of land where only a third was underutilization.
Wambugu
also the Kamacharia MCA told the assembly that the farm has remained a public
property since the pre-colonial era, where the colonial government had established
a detention camp for Mau Mau fighters.
The
university, Wambugu said, has set aside Sh400 million for use in establishing
learning at the farm and directed to rename the institution Uhuru Kenyatta
School of Agriculture and Environmental Studies.
“The
university has also been directed to preserve the Mugumo tree shrine and Mau Mau
screening room due to cultural and heritage significance,” said Wambugu.
Supporting
the motion, MCAs Amos Murigi (Kimorori) and Peter Githuka ( Mugumo ini) said
the lease period should be reduced to 25 years and details of the partnership
between the county government and MUT should be shared with the assembly.
They
said the university should have considered establishing agriculture in the
lower parts of Gatanga where there is ample land for expansion.
Seconding
the motion, Ithanga MCA Waweru Mwangi said the decision to establish a college
in Kigumo was noble but lower parts that are marginalized in development should
have been considered.
Murigi
also Kimorori MCA asked the assembly to ensure the university embarks in
employing non-skilled labour from the county, as the law provides.
Murigi said there is enough land for expansion in the lower parts of the
country when Kakuzi and Delmonte Limited companies await the renewal of land
leases.
“There
is information that the administration of MUT discriminates against the locals
in employment and recommends people from a certain locality,” said Murigi.
Last
year, Varsity Vice Chancellor Prof Dickson Nyariki during the donation of face
masks to the Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria, he made an appeal to be assisted
to establish agriculture and environment college.
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