JKUAT acquires ICEA Building for Ksh1.85 billion

Prof Imbuga cuts the ribbon symbolizing the handing over of the building. Looking on is Mr Mwangi

The iconic 21-storey ICEA Building, which has for 30 years graced the city’s skyline, is now owned by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

The building situated along Kenyatta Avenue was acquired from ICEA Lion Group by JKUAT on October 24, 2015. The university has moved its city centre campus from Pension Towers to occupy 11th to 14th floor on ICEA building.

The building, valued at Ksh1.85 billion, houses some of Nairobi’s major corporates like Hamilton Harrison & Mathews Advocates, Prudential Life Assurance Kenya Ltd, Kobil Petroleum Limited, AAR Health Services Limited, GNLD International Ltd, Standard Investment Bank, Kenstrel Capital (East Africa) Limited and the National Bank among others.

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Vice Chancellor Prof. Mabel Imbuga said the location of the facility would easily be accessed by most working class students wishing to further their studies on part time basis. “The acquisition of the building comes at a time when there is an immense demand of post-graduate studies especially in the field of Business and Information Technology (IT) related programmes,” she said. “JKUAT hopes the purchase will be instrumental in filling this gap and strives to produce highly qualified individuals, consequently improving the economy of the country.”

JKUAT – Nairobi CBD Campus Director Dr Florence Mwaura, said plans were under way to introduce new post-graduate programmes in engineering, public health and science based caused. Currently, the campus has about 2,500 students.

Besides being a strategic institutional move aimed at increasing access  to JKUAT programmes to the working student population within the city centre and its environs, the acquisition of the ICEA Building comes at a time when government funding to institutions of higher learning  in Kenya has been declining over the years. Universities are exploring viable and sustainable alternative ways of bridging the financial deficit.

Those present during the handover ceremony were Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance), Prof. Bernard Moirongo, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) Prof Victoria Ngumi, Deputy Director, Nairobi CBD Campus, Dr Wario Guyo, Prof. Bernard Nyende and Prof. Abiero Gariy.

Also read: Eight city centre university campuses to be closed

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