A parliamentary committee has raised concerns over rampant land encroachment, stalled infrastructure projects and unsustainable wage bills in several public institutions.
The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance shared these concerns at a session with six public institutions.
The institutions were Garissa University, Machakos University, Laikipia University, Kenya Education Management Institute, National Biosafety Authority and Karen Technical Training Institute for the Deaf.
A major concern was that at the Kenya Education Management Institute, a Sh950 million parcel of land hosting the Jacaranda Grounds in Embakasi East, Nairobi, has been partially encroached by informal settlers for more than a decade.
Kemi chief executive officer Dr Maurice Odondo told the committee that despite efforts to reclaim the land, including legal action and appeals to the parent ministry, the matter remains unresolved.
“The land measures 15.45 hectares, about 38 acres. Out of this, about six acres have been encroached on by informal settlers, while 32 acres remain secured,” he told the committee.
Odondo added that recent verification by the lands registry confirmed that the entire parcel remains legally registered under Kemi, dismissing fears of excision.
However, MPs pressed management on why the land had not been fully secured.
“Have you fenced the land?” asked committee sessional chairperson Kilome MP Thaddeus Nzambia, emphasising the need for proactive protection of public assets.
At Garissa University, legislators took issue with the institution’s wage bill, which stood at 51 per cent of total revenue, well above the legally prescribed threshold of 35 per cent.
Vice chancellor Prof Ahmed Warfa, through the head of finance Aden Mohamed, acknowledged the breach but defended the university, citing historical challenges and staffing gaps.
“Chairman, we agree with the findings. However, our wage bill has reduced from 65 per cent in previous years, and we are on a steady path towards compliance,” he said.
“Universities are labour-intensive. We are currently understaffed by about 300 staff, and we are intensifying resource mobilisation to meet the legal threshold.”
The committee also questioned the delayed construction of an administration block at the university, a project valued at Sh518.4 million.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu reported that the project, which was due for completion in August 2024, was only 40 per cent complete by May 2025, with the contractor having abandoned the site.
MPs demanded accountability, noting that Parliament had previously allocated funds to support the project.
“What is the current situation on the ground, and how has the money already allocated been utilised?” Nzambia asked.
The probe extended to other institutions, including Machakos University, Laikipia University, the National Biosafety Authority and the Karen Technical Training Institute for the Deaf.
MPs called for prudent financial management and protection of public resources.
The committee warned that failure to address audit queries could lead to sanctions, reiterating Parliament’s commitment to enforcing accountability in public institutions.
