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The incident where two governors and six MPs from the North
Rift region stormed Moi University and threatened to block the graduation
ceremony that was slated for Thursday and Friday should be condemned in the
strongest terms possible. In this time and age of new constitutional
dispensation, it is inconceivable that political leaders, who should be
spear-heading peace and national unity, can shamelessly engage in parochialism
and ethic animosity.
It is a shame for Uasin Gichu governor, Jackson Mandago and
his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Alex Tolgos to lead a group of MPs and locals
to protest over the appointment of acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Laban Ayiro by
Education Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang‘i.
The protest demonstrated clearly how some of our political
leaders are hell-bent on perpetuating ethnic prejudice as well as their selfish
interests.
Thankfully, the National Cohesion and Integration
Commission‘s intervention helped restore clam in the university. Nonetheless,
the episode was a damning indictment of some of our political leaders.
According to the latest report from NCIC, our public universities have become a
hotbed of tribal appointments and ethnicity. It behooves our leaders to keep
politics off our public universities in order for them to be citadels of
academic excellence. Political appointment in public service is our greatest
undoing.
Joseph G.Muthama, Thika
******
The storming of Moi University by a section of North Rift
lawmakers to protest the appointment of Prof Laban Ayiro as acting Moi
University Vice Chancellor was uncalled for. This begs the question, why did
leaders from only the North Rift oppose the appointment? How did they know that
Prof Isaac Kosgey emerged in a better position in the interviews? The leaders
had also threatened to disrupt the graduation ceremony on Thursday and Friday.
In as much as NCIC is at the forefront of ensuring that
Kenyans coexist peacefully and shun ethnicity, our leaders are the ones
propagating ethnic bigotry.
One of the goals of education is national unity which
provides that one can learn and teach in any institution within the country.
Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi indicated that due process was
followed in the appointment of Prof Ayiro. In a nutshell, Moi University is a
public university and does not belong to a particular community.
Fredrick Misolo, Bondo
******
Events unfolding at Moi University are sad. Universities are
international institutions which should portray a global image at all times.
When a section of the society attempts to view a university
from an ethnic angle then there is reason to worry. Kenyans should say no to
such ill intentions.
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However, delaying to make appointments to key positions is a
recipe for chaos. Let recruitment be expedited for sanity to prevail in the
affected institutions.