Moi University dismisses ghost workers’ allegations, to comply with EACC probe

The administration of Moi University has dismissed allegations made by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) that it had employed ‘ghost workers’, adding that its legal team would comply with the Commission’s demands.

This comes barely a fortnight after the anti-graft commission asked the Kesses-based institution to furnish it with documents of staff salary and allowances payments as from July 1, 2018, to date.

Speaking to The Standard exclusively on Sunday, September 12, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor Isaac Kosgey confirmed they had received the letter and were still working on verifying its source.

“The letter came in towards the end of last week and we are still trying to establish from the commission what [documents] they require. It is an independent constitutional commission and so we shall comply,” Prof Kosgey said.

The institution’s head also said the move was highly likely a 'witch hunt’ as a result of the upcoming March 2023 succession issues, from people he believed were not happy with his achievements.

“We have managed to salvage the institution financially since I took the reins of the university. This could even be a witch-hunt from people who are trying to disrupt our work,” he added.

In a letter dated September 7, 2021, and addressed to the institution’s vice-chancellor, EACC’s North-Rift Regional Director Japheth Baithalu said the move was to aid investigations into allegations of ‘ghost workers’ at the institution.

“To facilitate the investigations, the Commission requests you to provide the original documents and information supporting employment of all teaching and non-teaching staff as from 1st July, 2018 to date,” Baithalu’s letter read in part.

In addition, the Kesses-based institution is also required to include the approved budget by the Ministry of Education.

Prior to this, the institution had faced questionable financial conduct in 2016, when an audit revealed that Sh1 billion could not be accounted for.

The then auditor general, Edward Ouko disclosed to the public that the university was operating 56 bank accounts, and had 505 ghost workers paid Sh541m in the period between 2013 and 2016.

Prof Kosgey, the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Laikipia University, took office after he beat Prof Laban Ayiro, who was acting VC since September 2016, to the position in interviews conducted towards the end of 2017.