By P, KNA
A stand-off is brewing between Kiharu estate residents and Murang’a University of Technology in Murang’a county, after the institution erected barriers blocking a section of the main road, claiming the road sits on its land.
The barricade has inconvenienced hundreds of residents living in the estate that neighbours the university by cutting-off their direct access to Murang’a town and forcing them to use a longer alternative route.
The move has sparked outrage among the residents, who are now demanding government intervention and accusing the University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dickson Nyariki, of attempting to grab public land.
Benjamin Gachagua, a resident said the road known as the ‘old highway’ has existed for decades and is used to access Murang’a town from Kangema.
“I fail to understand why the University closed the road on both ends, and on what basis, because there has been no communication about it,” Gachagua said.
“This road has been in existence long before the University was established. It’s a public utility, yet the management now wants to treat it as private property,” he added.
Victor Chege, a bodaboda rider, said the closure has disrupted their daily operations.
“We’re now forced to use a longer route to and from town, but passengers are unwilling to pay extra,” he said.
Among the key facilities affected by the closure is the County Fire Station, whose access route to the neighbouring estates has been blocked on one side, a situation that could hinder rescue operations, in case of fire emergencies.
Disaster Management Officer Bilha Wanjiku, warned that in case of an emergency in nearby estates, fire engines would have to drive through Murang’a town first, to use an alternative route, causing dangerous delays.
“The road provides easy access to surrounding areas, but with the barriers, we might not respond to distress calls in time,” she said.
“We’re appealing to the government to intervene and have the road reopened,” she added.
Engineer Samuel Ngethe, one of the University founders and a former Deputy Principal in the 1980s, said the institution has no right to claim the road as private property.
“The field across the road was public but the University was allowed to use it. The University cannot claim ownership of either the field or the road,” he stated, warning the Institution’s leadership against dragging students into disputes with the community.
Angry residents have threatened to demolish the barriers, if the road is not reopened, insisting the University has no legal authority to block public access.
Efforts to reach the University’s management for comment were unsuccessful.