Revealed! Why Ruto allocated WHO hub KU land despite opposing it during Uhuru’s tenure
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Ruto finally allocated WHO 30 acres of land belonging to KU despite his fierce opposition to the project during Uhuru Kenyatta's tenure
Ruto finally allocated WHO 30 acres of land belonging to KU despite his fierce opposition to the project during Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure.
According to a Daily Nation report, President William Ruto’s decision to give the World Health Organization (WHO) 30 acres of land that belonged to Kenyatta University may have been influenced by geopolitics.
This choice contrasts with his stance from last year when he criticized the initiative that was led by his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta.
It now emerges that Kenya would have stood to lose more than gain if the Emergency Regional Hub for Eastern and Southern Africa was established elsewhere.
Kenya is the most advantageous location for the hub, according to the WHO, as it offers quick access to 25 nations in the region.
In addition, Ruto pledged to grant the WHO an additional 50 acres of land in Mombasa for its use.
He endorsed the deal while speaking at the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital, stating that the project would position Kenya as a regional hub.
He described the land given to WHO as unutilized and noted that despite the allocation, the university would still have sufficient land for expansion.
Last year, Kenyatta University had opposed giving away the land, arguing it needed it for expansion.
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At the time, the vice-chancellor, Prof Paul Wainaina, and the university council stood in the way but were all forced out of office.
The government then hastened the transaction before it was stopped by the courts.
Coming just a month before the general election, Ruto who was then deputy president, and the Kenya Kwanza brigade capitalized on the conflict and rallied behind Prof Wainaina.
After the Kenya Kwanza party came into power, Prof Wainaina was reinstated as the vice-chancellor of Kenyatta University.
In addition, he was appointed to serve on the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms.
Uhuru Kenyatta had allocated 190 acres for the settlement of the squatters.
Ruto, however, ruled out giving part of the university land to individuals claiming to be squatters from the Kamae neighborhood.
The former president had also set aside 10 acres for the Africa Centre for Disease Control and 180 acres for Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral, and Research Hospital.
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