Kenia: Moi University VC saga goes to court

The row on the appointment of Prof Laban Ayiro as acting vice-chancellor of Moi University has taken a new twist after some Rift Valley professionals resolved to move to court.

The group will today move to Eldoret High Court under certificate of urgency, seeking orders to compel the Moi University Council and the Ministry of Education to release the results of candidates who were interviewed for the position.

The group, under the umbrella Rift Valley Professional Youth Caucus, said it was the right of every Kenyan to know the outcome of the results and how the individuals performed in the interview.

Led by their chairman Kiprotich Cherargei, they faulted Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i for withholding information pertaining to how the candidates performed, for fairness and transparency to be seen to have been done.

He said no citizen should be denied the right to information of public interest under Article 35 of the Constitution.

Dr Matiang’i maintains he followed the law in appointing Prof Ayiro.

Meanwhile, four members of Parliament have condemned leaders from the Rift Valley who attempted to stop an “outsider” from acting as vice-chancellor.

The MPs have urged the Ministry of Education to develop a policy that will ensure public universities’ management is not held hostage by tribalism.

MPs Waweru Nderitu (Ndaragwa), Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga), Joseph Ndienge (Suna West) and Abdikadir Ore (Wajir) said tribalism should be divorced from the management of public universities.

Speaking in Nyahururu town on Saturday, the MPs said the university was a national institution financed by taxpayers money and should be managed by any qualified Kenyan.

They said Parliament might have to adopt a motion that will deny local leaders from interfering with the affairs  of universities in their localities.

Fuente noticia: http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Moi-University-VC-saga-goes-to-court/1056-3394666-h6rmco/index.html