Multimedia University of Kenya (MMU) held a consultative meeting with Affordable Housing Board ahead of signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the ongoing development of 2,500 modern institutional hostel bed capacity at the university.
Speaking during the meeting, MMU Chairman of Council Dr. Albert Kochei said the consultations focused on key aspects of the MoU between the university and the Affordable Housing Board covering the ongoing construction of the institutional hostel project.
“Today we have had a very fruitful consultation between the university Council, management and the management of the Affordable Housing Board, over key issues that will form part of a MoU between the two institutions,” Dr. Kochei said.
Dr. Kochei said that as part of the project arrangements, the university is expected to lease land for the development of the hostels for an agreed period. The consultations therefore focused on critical issues including the applicable land lease rate, lease period and the acreage required for the project.
He expressed gratitude to the Government for considering MMU among the institutions to benefit from the institutional hostel programme, noting that the project will significantly address accommodation challenges facing students.
“This is going to go a long way in ensuring affordability in terms of the rent that our students are going to be paying,” he said, adding that the initiative is in line with the Government’s objective of ensuring that university students are not subjected to the burden of high accommodation costs.
Dr. Kochei observed that a significant proportion of MMU students currently live in Rongai, where the University has limited control over accommodation costs. The development of institutional hostels within the University therefore presents an opportunity to provide students with more affordable and convenient accommodation.Affordable Housing Board led Chief Executive Officer Mr. Joe Mutugu said that the institutional hostel project is expected to strengthen student welfare infrastructure in MMU and other institutions of higher learning across the country while supporting the Government’s broader agenda of expanding access to affordable student accommodation.
On her part, MMU Vice Chancellor Prof. Rosebella Maranga said that the consultation mark an important step towards finalising and agreeing on the implementation modalities of the project that is expected to benefit the university student community through modern and decent accommodation facility.
Prof. Maranga said that the project will not only ease the financial burden on students, but also enhance their academic experience by enabling more students to reside closer to lecture halls and other university facilities.
“Upon completion, a significant number of our students will be residing within the university. This is going to help them focus more on their studies,” said Prof. Maranga.
Also present at the meeting was Affordable Housing Board General Manager, Martin Kimeu, John Kimani, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs, Research and Innovation Prof. Livinstone Ngoo, Ag. Registrar Administration Dr. George Mocheche, Ag. Registrar Academic Affairs Mrs. Judy Zirro, Chief Finance Officer Dr. Grace Kakiya, Ag. Estate Manager Eng. Saul Mogusu and Assistant Legal Officer Mr. Wilson Kagwe.
