Diaspora University Town (DUT) has lost one of its founding fathers, Wilfred Mbugua of Tewksbury, MA. Popularly known as Uncle Willy, his actions and spirit for social and economic development in Kenya led to what is today the DUT 1,500-acre project. The DUT project is progressing to create 20,000 jobs, open Diaspora University to enroll 5,000 students, develop a town with 25,000 residents, and establish 300 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and organizations.
Uncle Willy would call Dan Kamau, who is today the executive trustee of Diaspora University Trust and the Project Director of Diaspora University Town, after Dan published Jamhuri Magazine, a monthly print and online magazine that focused on the social and economic affairs of the Kenyan diaspora and Kenya's economic development. A friendship began that would, years later, inspire the development of the Master Development Plan (MDP), currently in progress at DUT.
After Dan published a Janhuri magazine, he would drive to the city of Lowell, MA, to stock the magazines in African shops. He would then drive to Uncle Willy’s home in Tewksbury, MA, and deliver a magazine to Uncle Willy. The two would then have a conversation mainly centered on what had been published, and also touch on the content of the next magazine.
During one of the visits, the conversation centered on Diaspora Homes' housing development in Kenya, which was featured in the magazine. Uncle Willy would introduce his registered property of 5 acres, which was issued a title as land that could be developed.
The Uncle Willy housing project would be created. The 5-acre development and design plan featured three apartment blocks, each with over 80 apartments, totaling 250 apartments. Additionally, it included a Swimming pool and gym, a Tennis and Basketball court, a school, and a shopping center.
They would initiate the plan, and Diaspora Homes in Kenya would be assigned to conduct a viability study. The study concluded that the proposed 250 apartments would not have a sale or rental market due to their distance from Nairobi and the lack of economic activity in the surrounding area. There was no development in the surrounding lands.
The words “no development in the surrounding lands” and “How do we fund a university” led Dan, who was working with WPI professors on a university development plan, to innovate an integration sustainable system. The system is today applied in Diaspora University Town development.
Dan would later drive to Uncle Willy and share the good news. He informed Uncle Willy that for the system to work, the development plan would require about 1,000 acres. The two would conclude that if the neighboring undeveloped parcels of land could be incorporated, and 1,000 acres were achieved, a university town could be built. They decided to have a survey map of the area bought from Kajiando County.
When the plan to consolidate 1,000 acres proved challenging to achieve, they embarked on searching for large parcels of land. Dan would constantly drive to Uncle Willy’s home to update. One time, as he sat, Uncle Willy would tell him, “You should have come yesterday.” When Dan asked, “Why?” Uncle Willy replied that Hon. Raila Odinga had been at his home from all afternoon until the late hours of the night, about 12 hours.
Uncle Willy was very excited when the project got land in Taita Taveta County. A plan is to be developed for the 5 acres, which sparked the innovation of the integrated sustainable system by the university.
Rest in peace, Uncle Willy. Every student who enrolls and passes through Diaspora University shall forever be grateful for your inputs in founding the Diaspora University. Diaspora University will advance the dream you supported of eradicating slums and ensuring every family lives in a good home.
