University of EA Baraton workers claim ‘forces’ frustrating VC

University of Eastern Africa, Baraton workers and the local community now claim there are attempts by external forces to interfere with the running of the institution.

The stakeholders said some forces, who are keen on taking over the management of the institution as the current Vice-Chancellor Prof Philip Maiyo’s term nears expiry, have waged social media attacks to discredit the institution’s management. The university, owned by the Seventh–Day Adventist (SDA), was granted a charter by former President Daniel Moi in 1991 and is located in Chepterit, Nandi County.

Prof Maiyo joined the University in 2014 and his second term is coming to an end in less than two years. Led by Mr Danson Kilonzo, a staffer at the institution, the workers said external forces should stop interfering with the university’s management. “I joined the institution in the late 1980s, and there was a time that the institution had plunged into a financial crisis. Workers worked without salaries for months.

“We are urging the community not to allow individuals with selfish interests to bring the university down,” Mr Kilonzo said.

He said there were fears the political forces could be determined to install a VC who would serve their selfish interests. He said a section of the community was unhappy with a decision by the university to reduce the number of locals employed in the institution from over 80 per cent to 48 per cent to foster cohesion.

Mr Julius Keter, another resident, told The Standard that workers who lost jobs during the institution’s restructuring are ganging up with some politicians to frustrate efforts by the top management to transform the institution.

“We are in total support of the austerity measures the university top management is taking in order to help the institution which is in serious debt and risk imminent closure to remain afloat,” said Mr Keter.

Mr Sammy Lagat, another resident, said there was an urgent need for education stakeholders including the political class and former employees to support the management to implement its flagship projects.

“As a community, we stand to benefit immensely from the mega projects being implemented by the institution. Key among them is the construction of a modern primary school, a state-of-the-art hospital and a bakery which will create additional jobs,” he said.