Uasu accuses Machogu of tribalism in varsity appointments

Education CS Ezekiel Machogu before the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) has faulted Education Cabinet Secretary  Ezekiel Machogu over recent appointments in universities.

Uasu National Organising Secretary Onesmus Mutio accused Machogu of alleged tribalism in appointment of public universities council members.

He said the CS's actions must be challenged as they risk entrenching tribalism in the institutions of higher learning.

Mutio, who is the Secretary General at Multi-Media University (MMU) called for urgent intervention to liberate the universities from tribalism.  

He was reacting to the April 5 appointment of Dr Angelica Obaga as the council member at Multimedia University. 

At the Commission for University, Machogu appointed Lawrence Okelo and Vincent Moseti.

The CS appointed Edna Nyaboke, Tabitha Nyandiek and Peter Githirwa as council members at Kabianga University, while at Southern Eastern Kenya University, he picked John Ondari and Fancy Kemei as the council members.

At Kirinyaga University, Mutio said the CS appointed Ben Momanyi as the council member for a term of three years.

“We are turning public universities into some village cattle dip associations that must draw their leadership from the village eldership,” he said.

Speaking to The Standard, Mutio claimed that recent appointments  by the CS lacked merit and such decisions must be resisted and condemned. 

“What this means is that even the appointment of Directors, Deans, and heads of departments, among others, will be tribal not mentioning the promotion of staff,” claimed the Uasu official.

He said the union has petitioned the government to halt the appointments in the universities. 

Mutio claimed that Prof Rosebella Maranga has been acting irregularly as the Vice Chancellor of MMU and complaints raised by the union through the office of the Chief of Staff Felix Koskei have not been addressed.

The Public Investment Committee chaired by Bumula MP Wamboka Wanami last week accused Machogu of appointing his kinsmen in universities.

The committee directed Auditor General Nancy Gathungu to conduct a special audit at the ministry.

But Machogu had earlier indicated that allegations levelled against him are not true.  "What is being peddled are mere allegations to tarnish my reputation," said the CS.