Kibwezi West Member of Parliament Mwengi Mutuse speaking at a Past Function. File Photo. 
By Ryan Mumo
Kibwezi West Member of Parliament Mwengi Mutuse has called for an amicable resolution to the ongoing land dispute between South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) and residents of Emali, insisting that only 500 acres out of the 4,500-acre Ukai land should be allocated to the institution.
Speaking in an interview with one of the local FMs Mutuse said the long-standing conflict over the land, which the university has been claiming in its entirety, must be handled with fairness and wisdom to ensure peace and coexistence between the university and the local community.
“We are not against SEKU University. Our people support education and we want a university in Emali. But giving away all 4,500 acres is unjustifiable when locals have no land to farm, settle, or bury their loved ones,” Mutuse said.
The MP proposed that SEKU be allocated 500 acres—a size he said is more than sufficient for a modern university—while the remaining 4,000 acres should be shared between community development and local settlement.
He explained that the community is willing to support the establishment of SEKU’s Emali campus, but the rest of the land should serve the people of Emali and neighboring areas, including Ngongweni, Kikumini, Masumba, and Uutini.
“Our proposal is simple: give SEKU 500 acres for the university, allocate 500 to 1,000 acres for the expansion of Emali Town, and let the remaining land be distributed to locals for settlement and agriculture. That is what justice looks like,” he emphasized.
Mutuse noted that the land issue has caused growing tension between locals and the university, with residents accusing SEKU of greed and encroachment. He cautioned against any attempts to displace families, saying peace cannot be achieved through force or intimidation.
“We fought for independence so that we could own our land. Sixty years later, it is shameful that our people are being colonized again by our own brothers,” Mutuse said, adding that he had already engaged local elders to find a lasting, peaceful solution.
He further pointed out that SEKU already possesses large tracts of underutilized land in Kitui, questioning why the university was insisting on keeping the entire 4,500-acre parcel in Emali.
“Even by law, a university needs about 50 acres under the Universities Act. Giving SEKU 500 acres is already ten times that requirement, so there’s no justification for holding onto 4,500 acres,” he stated.
Mutuse revealed that discussions are ongoing to designate part of the remaining land for an industrial and special economic zone, which would attract investors and create jobs for locals, spurring the growth of Emali Town.
He also mentioned that plans are underway to establish a technical university in Kinzuu on land currently owned by the University of Nairobi, which spans 12,000 acres, to support government efforts toward food security through irrigation and vocational training.
The MP urged both SEKU management and government agencies to adopt what he termed “Solomonic wisdom” in resolving the dispute, warning that any one-sided decision could lead to unnecessary unrest.
“The university cannot operate peacefully in a community that feels oppressed. Let’s find a win-win solution that gives justice to both sides and guarantees development and harmony in Emali,” he concluded.
