Events unfolding at Moi University are sad

The incident where two governors and six MPs from the North Rift region stormed Moi University and threatened to block the graduation ceremony that was slated for Thursday and Friday should be condemned in the strongest terms possible. In this time and age of new constitutional dispensation, it is inconceivable that political leaders, who should be spear-heading peace and national unity, can shamelessly engage in parochialism and ethic animosity.

It is a shame for Uasin Gichu governor, Jackson Mandago and his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Alex Tolgos to lead a group of MPs and locals to protest over the appointment of acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Laban Ayiro by Education Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang‘i.

The protest demonstrated clearly how some of our political leaders are hell-bent on perpetuating ethnic prejudice as well as their selfish interests.

Thankfully, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission‘s intervention helped restore clam in the university. Nonetheless, the episode was a damning indictment of some of our political leaders. According to the latest report from NCIC, our public universities have become a hotbed of tribal appointments and ethnicity. It behooves our leaders to keep politics off our public universities in order for them to be citadels of academic excellence. Political appointment in public service is our greatest undoing.

Joseph G.Muthama, Thika

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The storming of Moi University by a section of North Rift lawmakers to protest the appointment of Prof Laban Ayiro as acting Moi University Vice Chancellor was uncalled for. This begs the question, why did leaders from only the North Rift oppose the appointment? How did they know that Prof Isaac Kosgey emerged in a better position in the interviews? The leaders had also threatened to disrupt the graduation ceremony on Thursday and Friday.

In as much as NCIC is at the forefront of ensuring that Kenyans coexist peacefully and shun ethnicity, our leaders are the ones propagating ethnic bigotry.

One of the goals of education is national unity which provides that one can learn and teach in any institution within the country. Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi indicated that due process was followed in the appointment of Prof Ayiro. In a nutshell, Moi University is a public university and does not belong to a particular community.

Fredrick Misolo, Bondo

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Events unfolding at Moi University are sad. Universities are international institutions which should portray a global image at all times.

When a section of the society attempts to view a university from an ethnic angle then there is reason to worry. Kenyans should say no to such ill intentions.

However, delaying to make appointments to key positions is a recipe for chaos. Let recruitment be expedited for sanity to prevail in the affected institutions.