Chuka University Academic Staff Union (UASU) has today condemned the alienation of Chuka University Kairini land by the County Government of Tharaka-Nithi to make available space for the development of a Special Economic Zone Industrial Park.
The UASU leaders in a press briefing at the university termed the move as illegal and forceful, threatening the university's expansion and research plans.
According UASU Chairperson Dr. Alice Mulama Murwayi, the 500 acre Kairini parcel of land was donated by the community for expansion and research, with the farm revamped and restructured as an income generating unit.
"In 2017, the university developed a master plan outlining how the land was to be utilized and it has since been implementing the plan utilizing large scale livestock keeping, bee farming and agronomy farming activities for banana, avocado and and mango plantations ", she said.
During his visit to the county last Sunday, President William Ruto noted that the National Government and County Governments were going to jointly work towards developing Special Economic Zones through County Aggregation Industrial Parks, saying the government had allocated Kshs 100 million for every county.
County Governments are expected to contribute a minimum of Kshs 100 million and make available 100 acres of land for the construction of the industrial parks and according to Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki, plans were underway to outsource the 100 acres of land needed from the Chuka University farm in Kairini.
“We have invested KShs 100 million to every county and have asked the County Governments to also invest KShs 100 million and also provide land. I am happy that land in Kairini will be outsourced for the Industrial Park”, Ruto said.
UASU Secretary General Thomas Mutindi said the proposed encroachment was seen as a threat to advancement of education and creation of employment on the area, affirming the reason for the union to strongly oppose the proposal to alienate land.
In their statement, the union believes that the County Government has enough land for such projects, maintaining that the land was set aside for educational purposes and ought to be protected.
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