By P, KNA
Siaya county government has denied claims that it was ejecting the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science of Technology (JOOUST) from the Agricultural Training Centre land in Siaya town.
According to the county leadership, reports from a section of the elected leaders from the area to the effect that JOOUST’s Siaya town campus was set for closure were misleading and not based on facts.
Addressing a press conference at the county headquarters, county executive committee members led by the county secretary, Joseph Ogutu and the CECM for lands, physical planning, housing and urban development, Maurice McOrege accused those behind the rumours of seeking to score cheap political mileage.
“This is a matter that requires collective leadership, a sober discussion and sustainable solutions,” said McOrege who read the press statement adding “attempting to score cheap political points out of these challenges does not serve the interests of students or the future of higher education in our county”.
McOrege who was flanked by among others, the CECM for agriculture, Sylvestre K’okoth and CECM for environment, Prof Jacqueline Oduol, said there has never been any consideration of ejecting JOOUST or its students from the ATC land.
He said that though the initial memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with JOOUST on February 6, 2019 expired recently, a joint committee comprising 16 members from the university and the county government has been constituted to work on its renewal.
The CECM said that the county government was in discussions with stakeholders to relocate the Siaya Prison from its current location to create adequate space for the university’s proper establishment within the municipality.
Addressing the occasion, county secretary, Joseph Ogutu said there has never been correspondence between the county government and the university over eviction from ATC land.
Ogutu further denied claims that the county government was planning to construct new headquarters at the ATC land adding that such a decision has not been made.
“Decision on where to put up the headquarters has not been made,” he said adding “we still don’t have a budget for construction of the headquarters.”
Last week, Alego- Usonga member of parliament, Samuel Atandi raised a storm when he accused the Siaya county government of denying Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) land on which its Siaya town campus sits, forcing it to order closure and relocation of students.
Atandi appealed to both the county government and relevant authorities to rescind the decision which, he said, will kill the economy of the town.
The legislator alleged that he recently received communication from the university vice chancellor that they intend to close the campus which is based at the Siaya agricultural training centre.
He said that the county government intends to put up a new headquarters hence the university has to give way.
The MP said that his attempts to implore the governor to release the land to the university for its expansion has hit a snag.
The issue has raised mixed reactions amongst the locals among them academicians hailing from the area about the matter, challenging the governor to come out and clear the air.
However, some residents dismissed the MP’s allegations as mere politics aimed at undermining governor Orengo’s administration.