Tharaka Nithi governor Muthomi Njuki has warned that Chuka University risks losing the whole 500 acre Kairini land if they are not going to cooperate in surrendering 100 acres of it for economic industrial park as president Ruto has directed.
Speaking at Kithukio during his county wide issuance of free certified seeds,Njuki said the land was given out by public and the same public will benefit with the industrial park once established.
The County boss further clarified that every institution in the County is under him and he is too supporting the president and thus if the university do not want to heed his directive, let them atleast obey the president.
“The head of state President William Ruto has directed that the university surrender 100 acres for the industrial park project.So if they can’t listen to me as the governor,let them take orders from the president since we are speaking in one voice,” Njuki said.
He thus said the university should move with speed and hive the required land or else the County will take the whole land and decide what to do with it later on.
He termed the protests by the University’s staff as futile since the president has already made his declaration to establish the project in the land.
Njuki was backed by administration and devolution CECM Muthini Karangi who seemed to hit former Chuka university VC Professor Njoka for sabotaging the project being supported by national government.
Karangi said it was ironical for Njoka to oppose the industry establishment whereas during the campaign he used to complain that the County lacks a single industry.
Mugwe Ward MCA Jacob Murimi Ndeke and who doubles as agriculture committee chair in the County assembly of Tharaka Nithi said the land is currently inhabited by monkeys and it is time to put it into rightful use.
Similar words came from Igambang’ombe ward MCA Njeru Ing’ara who said residents have agreed that the land should be surrendered to County government for the project so that the locals can benefit.
Mariani Ward boss,Anita Karimi Mbae also supported the project which she said will help in creating job opportunities to locals along side opening the locality for other development projects.
The industrial park according to governor Njuki will avail 5,000 jobs to residents in the County.
The County government of Tharaka Nithi is injecting Sh 100 million into the project while the national government will inject the same amount.
However Njuki says donor community will further fund the project with Sh 1.2 billion for equipping, bringing the total cost of the project to Sh 1.4 billion.
Chuka university staff is protesting the proposed hiving of the land which they claim is on use and won’t allow the County government of Tharaka Nithi to occupy it.
