Institutions of higher learning in Kenya have come under sharp criticism in the past for having lopsided priorities. Moi University has been the subject of banter on social media after they unveiled their gate worth millions at the expense of more urgent projects at the institution.
WoK looks at other institutions with the most expensive gates and their cost.
Egerton University Gate-Ksh 70 million
This Is arguably the most expensive gates of any institution in Kenya. The Ksh 70 million gate has a guardroom, a control room, a watchtower, a minimart and a reception. Unveiled in 2019, the gate took two years to build.
The then Vice Chancellor, Rose Mwonya, said of the gate,
“Plans for the construction of the gate were initiated in 2007 by the previous administration. Every year after that, funds were allocated for its construction, but the project never took off until 2017 when I became the VC..”
“This is a complex which includes a mini supermarket for stocking university farm produce. It also has a bookshop and a security system located in one area,” the VC told the Standard.
Kenyatta University Gate-Ksh 20 million
Another gate that gobbled up millions in the Ksh 20 million Kenyatta University gate. The gate that was officially unveiled in 2019 was in response to terror attacks in Garissa University that left 147 dead.
The gate has a broad dual carriageway.
Maasai Mara University Gate- Ksh 16 million
2019 seemed to be the year of constructing gates. Maasai Mara University spent a whooping Ksh 16 million to construct their gate.
Early this year, Maasai Mara University also launched their gate which is estimated to have cost nearly Sh16 million.
Interestingly, the university has no fence around it.
Other multi-million gates
Institutions with gates said to be in their millions include Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Embu University and the recent and now Moi University.