EACC calls out UoN for unlawful appointment, creation of positions

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has called out the Governing Council of the University of Nairobi (UoN) for an alleged unlawful appointment.

EACC boss Twalib Mbarak says the institution's governing body unlawfully created the position of a Chief Operations Officer (COO) and irregularly extended the term of the holder who holds a degree not recognised in Kenya.

"The Commission commenced investigations into allegations that the tenure of Mr. Brian Ouma the acting Chief Operations Officer (COO) at the University of Nairobi was irregularly extended with effect from 12th July 2021 to date and the Bachelor of Philosophy degree certificate from Pontifical Urbaniana University used by Mr. Ouma to seek employment at the University of Nairobi is not recognized in Kenya amongst other allegations," Mbarak's letter to UoN Council Chair reads in part.

Therefore, EACC wants the university to take action on the unlawful creation of the position and appointment of the office holder and report back to the commission in 30 days.

According to EACC, Brian Ouma's appointment as COO in July 2021 is unlawful due to his academic credentials and that the office was created unlawfuly.

Apart from holding an unrecognized degree, EACC argues that Ouma scored a C- in KCSE and therefore not fit for admission to any university in the country.

"Mr. Ouma enrolled at Apostles of Jesus Philosophicum (AJP) Major Seminary affiliated with Pontifical Urbaniana University (PUU) for his Bachelor of Philosophy; Ouma obtained a mean grade of C- (Minus) in KCSE and thus he did not have the necessary qualifications for direct entry into the University to undertake a degree program in Kenya;"

"The Commission of University Education (CUE) confirmed that, as of 2003 and under the provisions of (criteria for accreditation) Rule 14 of the Universities (Establishment of Universities) (Standardization, Accreditation, and Supervision) Rules, 1989 [L.N. 56/1989, L.N. 160/2002], PUU was not an accredited institution in Kenya and therefore the certificate awarded by PUU is not recognized in Kenya;" EACC explains.

On July 12, 2021, the University of Nairobi Council resolved to reorganize the administrative positions and created 14 positions, including the COO position.

UoN's website states that a COO is in charge of all the administrative non-academic departments and oversees the day-to-day running of all their activities in the University.

Before his appointment, Ouma was serving as the University's Director of Advancement and Institutional Development.

EACC boss Twalib Mbarak says the institution's governing body unlawfully created the position of a Chief Operations Officer (COO) and irregularly extended the term of the holder who holds a degree not recognised in Kenya.

"The Commission commenced investigations into allegations that the tenure of Mr. Brian Ouma the acting Chief Operations Officer (COO) at the University of Nairobi was irregularly extended with effect from 12th July 2021 to date and the Bachelor of Philosophy degree certificate from Pontifical Urbaniana University used by Mr. Ouma to seek employment at the University of Nairobi is not recognized in Kenya amongst other allegations," Mbarak's letter to UoN Council Chair reads in part.

Therefore, EACC wants the university to take action on the unlawful creation of the position and appointment of the office holder and report back to the commission in 30 days.

According to EACC, Brian Ouma's appointment as COO in July 2021 is unlawful due to his academic credentials and that the office was created unlawfuly.

Apart from holding an unrecognized degree, EACC argues that Ouma scored a C- in KCSE and therefore not fit for admission to any university in the country.

"Mr. Ouma enrolled at Apostles of Jesus Philosophicum (AJP) Major Seminary affiliated with Pontifical Urbaniana University (PUU) for his Bachelor of Philosophy; Ouma obtained a mean grade of C- (Minus) in KCSE and thus he did not have the necessary qualifications for direct entry into the University to undertake a degree program in Kenya;"

"The Commission of University Education (CUE) confirmed that, as of 2003 and under the provisions of (criteria for accreditation) Rule 14 of the Universities (Establishment of Universities) (Standardization, Accreditation, and Supervision) Rules, 1989 [L.N. 56/1989, L.N. 160/2002], PUU was not an accredited institution in Kenya and therefore the certificate awarded by PUU is not recognized in Kenya;" EACC explains.

On July 12, 2021, the University of Nairobi Council resolved to reorganize the administrative positions and created 14 positions, including the COO position.

UoN's website states that a COO is in charge of all the administrative non-academic departments and oversees the day-to-day running of all their activities in the University.

Before his appointment, Ouma was serving as the University's Director of Advancement and Institutional Development.