Moi University is a lesson in the perils of tribalism

Moi University was founded in 1984 with grand expectations as Kenya’s second public university, a milestone meant to alleviate the mounting pressure on the University of Nairobi.

At the time, the country’s population was growing rapidly, and the demand for higher education had surpassed the capacity of existing institutions.

Concurrently, Kenya was transitioning from the British-inherited 7-4-2-3 education system to the more practical-oriented 8-4-4 curriculum. The new system promised to impart employable skills to learners and increase university admission rates, addressing the needs of a youthful and ambitious nation.

Adding to this context was the global awakening to climate change and environmental challenges. Countries were scrambling to develop technical capacity in environmental sciences, forestry, and related fields. In response, President Daniel arap Moi envisioned a university that would focus on science and environment to meet these urgent global and local needs.

Moi appointed Professor Douglas Odhiambo, a distinguished scholar, to lead a committee exploring the feasibility of a second university. The committee recommended establishing Moi University to prioritise courses in forestry, environmental sciences, and basic sciences. The university admitted its first cohort of students in 1985, cementing its reputation as a forward-looking institution at its inception.

Today, Moi University’s decline into mediocrity and dysfunction serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of sacrificing meritocracy on the altar of ethnic politics.

In 2016, Laban Ayiro, a competent and visionary professor, was appointed acting vice chancellor (VC). During his tenure, Ayiro steered the university towards financial stability and academic excellence. Yet, when the time came for a permanent appointment, his impressive track record was disregarded. The hiring panel, influenced by ethnic considerations, chose a local candidate with limited qualifications, scoring Ayiro at an unsubstantiated 44 per cent, while the local candidate received a dubious 97 per cent.

The rejection of Prof Ayiro, now credited with revitalizing Daystar University, epitomised the entrenchment of ethnic entitlement in Kenya’s public institutions. The belief that local communities own universities and other government institutions in their regions has deep roots, tracing back to President Moi’s era.

During Moi’s presidency, political expediency often dictated the establishment of institutions. Communities lobbied for universities and government bodies under the pretext that they would benefit locals. In response, the government regularly acquiesced, often making leadership appointments based on regional or ethnic considerations to placate local populations.

This tradition has persisted, fostering a toxic sense of ownership among locals while alienating “outsiders” deemed unsuitable for leadership. In some cases, these dynamics have led to overt actions to oust non-local leaders, often with tacit approval from government officials.

Institutions like Moi University, Pwani University, and Masinde Muliro University have grappled with similar issues, as have State corporations like the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and regional development authorities. The result is a culture where merit and competence are sidelined in favour of parochial interests, often to the detriment of the institutions themselves.

The consequences of ethnic politics and poor leadership are now evident at Moi University. The institution has become a shadow of its former self, plagued by financial woes, declining academic standards, and dwindling enrollment. The misplaced priorities of its leadership have eroded its once-prominent status.

Moi University’s decline offers valuable lessons. It highlights the urgent need to protect public institutions from ethnic politics.