Ministry asked to work with universities to end tribalism

By NIKKO TANUI

The government has directed the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to work with local universities to eliminate tribalism and nepotism creeping in the institutions.

Deputy President William Ruto said universities should be based on excellence and meritocracy.

“Universities should not be based on mundane things such as who is a friend of who, who is a relative of who and who comes from which village. Universities are set on higher ideals and they must never be associated with mediocrity at all,” Ruto said.

He was speaking during the first graduation at University of Kabianga, in Kericho County. Over 500 graduands were conferred with various degree, diplomas and certificates. Ruto also challenged local universities to be in the forefront in the quest to lead future graduates in disregarding a misplaced sense of entitlement where some feel the society owes them.

“We must recalibrate and re-prioritise the philosophy of education to produce balanced and well adjusted graduates whose academic qualifications are social assets and not liabilities,” he said.

He challenged universities to impart a set of skills, knowledge and sensibilities consonant with Kenya’s desired future envisioned in the Vision 2030.

Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony said his administration will set aside Sh100 million to compliment government’s efforts.  The university’s chancellor Prof Richard Musangi said the institution has experienced rapid development since 2009 after being a constituent college of Moi University.

He said the university has developed a blueprint for its future development in the Revised University Strategic Plan 2010-2015 and appealed to the government to enhance financial funding.