Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thangw’a has asked the Labour and Social Welfare parliamentary committee to provide the House with detailed information regarding the privileges granted to public institutions that bear the names of present and past public figures, including presidents.
These institutions encompass roads, stadiums, universities, primary and secondary schools, and locations named after the current president, William Ruto, and former presidents, Uhuru Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki, and Daniel Arap Moi.
“The senator has requested the committee to furnish a detailed inventory of all public institutions, stadiums, roads, and locations that bear the names of current and former presidents of the Republic of Kenya. The inventory should include their specific locations and, if applicable, the distance in kilometers,” stated the committee.
In addition, Senator Thangw’a asked the committee to conduct an investigation to determine whether the naming of these institutions after the leaders was done in compliance with the law.
“The senator also requests that the committee identify any additional benefits received by these institutions as a result of being named after individuals, and assess whether the naming of these amenities adhered to existing policies and guidelines,” the statement further explained.
Some of the public institutions that have been named after former presidents and other prominent leaders include Kenyatta University, Moi University, Oginga Odinga University, Dedan Kimathi University, and Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology (JKUAT), among others.
Furthermore, some notable public roads named after prominent leaders include Kenyatta Avenue, Moi Avenue, Tom Mboya Street, Koinange Street, and Oginga Odinga Road, among others.
In the healthcare sector, there are public hospitals named after presidents and other influential leaders, such as Kenyatta Hospital, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Mama Margaret Kenyatta Children’s Hospital, and Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital.
It has been reported that former President Mwai Kibaki consistently declined the practice of having projects he inaugurated named after him. Retired President Uhuru too never named a single project after him when he was in power
