KU students want the state to revert ownership of KUTRRH

Kenyatta University medical students staged demonstrations outside the institution. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Kenyatta University students have called on the state to revert ownership of Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital (KUTTRH) to the institution, within two weeks.

In a statement by KU Students' Association treasurer, Jaffer Kasaya, the learners want the hospital to facilitate medical students.

He says medical students at the Thika Road-based university are on the verge of deregistration and are forced to travel to Kiambu Referral Hospital, 15 Km away, for treatment.

"The Kenyatta University student fraternity is in a state of utter confusion and fear. Our fear is borne out of the fact that very soon our Medical School will be deregistered and over 2,000 students sent into the wilderness,".

"We humbly request the Kenya Government, the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Paul Wainaina and the KU management board to facilitate the surrender and return of the KUTRRH to Kenyatta University unconditionally within 2 weeks failure to which unspecified action shall be exacted," the students association's statement reads in part.

KUSA is demanding that medical students begin to utilise the hospital for their learning purposes with immediate effect.

The students have also called on President William Ruto, Education CS Ezekiel Machogu and Health CS Susan Nakhumicha Wafula to address the issue.

"During our last graduation on Friday, December 16th, 2022 The Deputy President HE Hon. Rigathi Gachagua promised the congregation that there would be a tripartite meeting to resolve the issues at hand," KUSA says.

"We fully support this view as it will unlock the stalemate. We are firm believers in dialogue and engagement. When the land cartels attempted to take over sizable land belonging to the University, it was our Head of State who came to the rescue of our University,"