Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi has strongly criticized Siaya Governor James Orengo over what he claims is a plan to shut down the Siaya campus of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST).
Speaking in Alego on Saturday, Atandi alleged that the county government intends to reclaim the land currently occupied by JOOUST’s School of Agriculture at the Siaya Agricultural Training Center (ATC). He claimed the site was earmarked for the construction of new county headquarters, a move that would force the relocation of more than 1,200 students to the university’s main campus in Bondo.
The MP expressed disappointment, saying he had previously held several meetings with Governor Orengo where he appealed for the land to be permanently allocated to the university. Atandi warned that displacing the institution would deal a blow to Siaya town’s economy, which relies heavily on the presence of students and staff for business and growth.
“This university has not only brought higher education closer to our people but has also boosted the town’s economy. Removing it will hurt Siaya residents who benefit directly and indirectly from its presence,” Atandi said.
However, county officials have moved to allay fears of eviction. Siaya County Assembly’s Land and Physical Planning Committee Chairman, James Obiero Otare, dismissed Atandi’s claims, terming them misleading. He assured residents that JOOUST’s presence in Siaya remains secure and that there are no plans to displace the campus.
According to Otare, the university had in fact requested 30 acres of land within the same ATC parcel, which has already been allocated. “The issue has been resolved. JOOUST will continue operating in Siaya without disruption,” he clarified.
The differing positions by the MP and the county government have left residents uncertain, with many awaiting a formal statement from the university’s administration. For now, the fate of JOOUST’s Siaya campus remains a point of contention, highlighting the delicate balance between county development plans and the community’s educational and economic needs.
