NCIC descends on Maasai
Maara University
Our Reporter
The National Cohesion and Integration
Commission officers have pitched tent at the Maasai Mara University probing
claims of nepotism, tribalism, irregular hiring and firing of staff as well as
corruption related activities.
The NCIC officers were
acting on a tip-off through an
anonymous letter addressed to it and copied to
the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission, cabinet secretary ministry of
Education, Governor Narok county and area MP Ole Kenta.
Under corruption related
activities, the EACC is also said to be investigating the procurement of a car
for the VC, Mary Waling’o at a cost of Sh12million but sources say the market
value is far below the Sh12million. It is suspected that she uses the car and
at the same time withdraws car allowance unlike her deputies who are using
their own vehicles after it was agreed that they draw allowances.
Also under investigations
is the procurement of the university bus at a cost of Sh11m but which sources
say was initially to be purchased at Sh9million. Sources say the procurement of
the bus did not follow the right procedure. Already, the university’s tender
committee is under pressure to approve procurement of a certain finance system
(Enterprise Resource Planning System) at a cost of Sh20million.
The NICIC officers are
said to be investigating claims of irregular hiring, promotion and firing of
university staff. Of interest is one Mr Omuse who is a computer technician.
Sources said in the last two years, Omuse has been promoted two times and is
now in grade 12. Those who know him well say that his academic and professional
qualifications do not allow him to be in grade 12.
The EACC is also said to
be investigating circumstances under which Omuse took Sh990,000 in cash to pay
for subscription by university to Africa association of universities and
others. This money was allegedly approved by the VC and up to date, this money
has never been accounted for.
It is claimed that the VC
has gone tribal and creates positions for people from her ethnic community or
to people who are loyal to her and who never raises queries on issues and
directives and orders by the VC. The NCIC is also said to be investigating
claims that most heads, chairmen and directors are appointed on tribal
basis as close to 80 pc are from same
ethnic community.
Already, word is out that
some of her trusted and loyal lieutenants who have reached retirement age are
still being retained. The officers who are said to have reached retirement age
but are still in payroll are security officer, human resource officer and
registrar academic affairs.
Sources say the VC has
been single handedly appointing temporary staff while retrenching casuals who
have worked for the university for many years on continuous basis. The VC
allegedly employed Prof Oyaro’s wife unprocedurally. Oyaro is the dean of
Science.
The EACC, according to
well-placed sources, has also been called upon to investigate an allegation
that the VC is plotting on how to clear Prof David Serem of a debt of
Sh9million from the suspense account. Serem is a former Principal of Maasai
Mara University. When the finance officer detected the plot, he objected and
was sent on forced leave. It is suspected that the VC cleared Serem during the
absence of the finance officer.
On mismanagement of
university funds, the letter claims that she has been visiting all over the
world and financing Chinese and French to visit Narok to see the so-called
botanical garden and in all her visits, there has been no impact or
returns which is a clear case of misuse
of university funds.
The letter further claims
that the VC goes to Nairobi on Thursdays and Fridays and the trips are fully
financed by the university claiming she is on official duties but
investigations have revealed that she travels to Nairobi to attend classes. She
is currently doing MBA at the University of Nairobi.
It is claimed that the
university looses close to Sh100,000 every week through the VC’s office for
security purposes. Sources say whenever she travels to Nairobi; she is
accompanied by a bodyguard who is paid allowances which are made in cash.
It is alleged that in all
her dealings, she does not append her signature on approved documents and only
puts initials (VC and the date) and rather than signing and approving the
original documents, she does it on photocopies of the same documents.
The letter further
alleges that the VC has hired the services of one Makokha who is a former
university employee to spy on the university staff and another from Safaricom
to tap other staff phones. On political patronage, she is said to have been
sending emissaries to William ole Ntimama in an effort to compromise him.
Sources say the VC has now employed a close relative to Ntimama in an effort to
silence him.
One of the projects under
investigations is the Sh15billion hospital. Stakeholders are wondering what
happened to the project and if there was money allocated, where did it go? It
is imperative to note that no single project has been done at the university
since her appointment despite taxpayers’ money channeled to the university for
the last two years amounting to Sh300 million for projects.
The EACC is also said to
have been investigating claims that the University Council chairman Joseph
Okumu who through the influence of the VC has become an executive chairman.
Records indicate that he draws a monthly allowance of close to Sh350,000 per
month. The EACC sleuths are said to be pursuing documents which shows that he
draws Sh80,000 responsibility allowances instead of Sh25,000.
Sources say Okumu is now
performing administrative activities on a daily basis in which he addresses all
deans of schools and all heads of departments and also signs letters of
appointments to staff. A good example is that he signed for Ogola to act as the
dean school of education.
Sources say the VC is
manipulating the chairman by all means by approving and giving him allowances
and honoraria on a daily basis. The two also possess some issues together
without the knowledge of the full council of the university.
Part time lecturers at
the Maasai Mara University are also bitterly complaining that they are never
paid and are owed hundreds of thousands in unpaid salaries and allowances.
Also under investigations
are circumstances under which the VC brought the Presbyterian University students
to graduate at Maasai Mara University during the third graduation ceremony.
