Kenyatta University VC Paul Wainaina, Olive Mugenda clash over management of KUTRRH

KUTRRH Board Chairperson Olive Mugenda. [Samson Wire, Standard]

However, Prof Mugenda told the committee that the facility was unutilized for three years before she took over despite being complete and the university was previously represented by three board members in the hospital before it was changed to one after it became a parastatal

The former KU Vice Chancellor, who was in charge when the construction of the facility started, said that they have not denied students access and they were free to conduct their practical lessons.

Prof Mugenda told the committee that she had nothing personal against Prof Wainaina who served as her deputy for five years saying that at the moment there was no legal framework for an educational institution to run a health facility terming it as the reason, she will advocate for the hospital to be run independently from the university.

"I was the Vice Chancellor of Kenyatta University when the building of this hospital was conceptualized and started, I would also like to tell this committee that I have nothing personal against Prof Wainaina who served as my deputy, I would like to see our two institutions relating in a harmonious manner," she said.

The committee took the KUTRRH Board Chair to task over the qualification of the Hospital CEO saying that he was not a medical doctor but she defended him saying that he had a Master's Degree in Business Administration and Bachelor's degree in Nursing and was sufficiently qualified to run the facility.

Attorney General Justin Muturi told the committee that the Ministries of Education, Health and the National Treasury need to sit together and resolve the differences between the two public institutions.

"The difference between the managements of Kenyatta University and Kenyatta University Teaching, Research and Referral Hospital can be solved if the Ministries of Education, Health and National Treasury sit down together and help sort out the issue with my office ready to offer legal expertise," said Muturi.