The County Government of Siaya (CGS) has moved to quell growing public uproar over allegations that it is attempting to seize land belonging to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) for the construction of a new county headquarters.
In a detailed statement issued on Friday, August 29, 2025, the county administration dismissed the claims as “false, misleading, and dismissive of the long-standing, good-faith partnership” between the devolved unit and the university. Instead, the county insists that the contested site is part of a joint, legally recognized arrangement that balances higher education, agricultural training, and public administration needs.
Background: The 2019 MoU
At the heart of the dispute is a 50-acre public parcel historically tied to the Siaya Agricultural Training Centre (ATC). According to the county, the land has never been exclusively under JOOUST.
In February 2019, the county and the university signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a JOOUST campus in Siaya Town. The agreement envisioned three academic schools—Business and Economics, Agriculture and Food Science, and Education—alongside continued support for the ATC.
The county committed to allocate land and provide infrastructure, while JOOUST pledged research support, training, and academic programming. The MoU also created a joint management framework to oversee the collaboration.
The Land-Sharing Formula
Following months of technical consultations, a joint CGS–JOOUST Technical Committee recommended splitting the 50 acres into three allocations:
25 acres for the JOOUST Siaya Campus
10 acres for the ATC
15 acres for the County Headquarters
County officials describe this as a “co-existence model” that allows education, agricultural training, and governance to reinforce each other in what they term a “civic-knowledge precinct.”
“The plan secures a substantial, designated footprint for JOOUST while providing modern, accessible headquarters for county administration,” the statement reads.
Compliance and Safety Pressures
The land deal has also been shaped by regulatory and safety concerns. In 2023, the Commission for University Education (CUE) flagged nationwide issues with universities teaching in unaccredited spaces. Separately, a government directive ordered the removal of asbestos roofing by December 31, 2024.
According to the county, the joint committee’s plan directly addresses these concerns by accelerating accreditation for the Siaya Campus and phasing out asbestos facilities.
“These actions protect students, staff, and the public while enabling JOOUST to operate lawfully and sustainably in Siaya,” the statement says.
Titling and Legal Regularization
To make the arrangement binding, the county has prepared a Part Development Plan that awaits approval by the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning. Once approved, JOOUST will secure a long-term lease for its 25 acres, the ATC will retain its 10-acre training ground, and the county will formally develop its headquarters on 15 acres.
Pushback and Public Perception
Despite the documented agreements, critics have accused the county of “land grabbing,” arguing that JOOUST’s presence in Siaya is being undermined. The county strongly rejects this, urging residents to “rely on facts, not propaganda.”
“To our students, faculty, farmers, and citizens: your County and your public university are on the same side—delivering knowledge, services, and opportunities,” the county said.
The statement frames the land-sharing deal as a “three-win” outcome: an expanded JOOUST campus, a revitalized ATC, and a modern county headquarters.
Observers say the resolution of this matter will likely influence how future land disputes between counties and public universities are handled, particularly as both institutions seek to expand their mandates under tight resource constraints.
For now, the County Government of Siaya insists it is building—not dismantling—its relationship with JOOUST.
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