Kenyan universities have splashed millions of shillings to construct stylish and expensive gates sparking uproar The management of the institutions of higher learning noted the gates were constructed to enhance security in the wake of the al-Shabaab attack on Garissa University College Egerton University in Nakuru has a state-of-the-art gate which gobbled KSh 70 million and took two years to build.
RELATED: 25 most marketable courses in Kenya in 2022
In recent years, Kenyan universities have splashed millions of shillings to construct stylish gates sparking uproar. The multi-million gates sparked criticism when universities faced huge debts, with some forced to lay off staff.
However, the management of the institutions of higher learning noted the gates were constructed to enhance security in the wake of the al-Shabaab attack on Garissa University College in April 2015.
- Egerton University
In 2019, Egerton University in Njoro, Nakuru county, unveiled a state-of-the-art gate. The gate, which gobbled KSh 70 million, took two years to build. Former vice-chancellor Rose Mwonya initiated it in 2017.
However, Mwonya was suspended from office over corruption allegations. She later resumed office and retired in January 2021, handing over to Isaac Kibwage.
The gate boasts ultra-modern security features, including a guardroom, control room, and watch tower. It also comprises a reception office, a mini-mart, and a security office.
“This complex includes a mini supermarket for stocking university farm produce. It also has a bookshop and a security system located in one area,” Mwonya said during its launch.
- Kenyatta University
Kenyatta University is one of Kenya’s oldest institutions of higher learning. It was named Kenya’s third university in 1985, after the University of Nairobi (1970) and Moi University (1984).
The university’s gate and perimeter wall at its Ruiru main campus cost a whopping KSh 20 million, as reported by Who Owns Kenya. The gate has a dual carriage road for cars and houses a security office where all visitors and students are scanned before their entry.
RELATED: How to Open a PayPal Account in Kenya 2022
- Maasai Mara University
Maasai Mara University in Narok county has been rocked by corruption allegations in the past. The institution was started in 2007 as a constituent college of Moi University. It became a fully-fledged university in 2012 after receiving a charter.
In 2019, the university launched a KSh 16 million gate with an elegant design. At the top of the gate, two clubs (rungus) associated with the Maasai community were modelled. The gate comprises a security complex with a watch tower.
- Embu University
The public university is the successor of the former Embu Agricultural Staff Training (EAST) College, which started in 1947. It was established as a constituent college of the University of Nairobi (UoN) on June 17, 2011, according to its website.
On October 7, 2016, it became a fully-fledged university and was formally awarded a charter by President Uhuru Kenyatta. The institution has a huge multi-million gate that houses its security complex.
RELATED: Top 5 most subscribed Kenyan musicians on Youtube
- Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)
JKUAT was established as a university in December 1994. It started in 1981 as a middle-level college offering agriculture courses. The Juja-based institution has one of the most stylish gates, but its cost has not been revealed.
