The
latest protest by Governor Jackson Mandago and colleagues to demand the exit of
acting Moi University Vice Chancellor Laban Ayiro, puts the country on a
dangerous academic path.
It
is especially disastrous when the country is still on a healing process from
the afflictions of the 2007/08 post-poll chaos; bearing in mind that Mr.
Mandago’s county was the most affected.
Their
actions are so dear; so that if they don’t come out to apologize publicly to
the masses, then it leaves no doubt that we are to witness another episode of
tribal-fueled clashes. In fact, worse as it may appear, this time round our
academic institutions might have to suffer the more.
The
move by team Mandago to swap the university’s VC with their own tribal man,
Isaac Koskei, can only signal how Kenyans are deeply rooted in the cocoons of
tribal configurations with leaders leading the pack.
Tribalising
learning institutions is nothing short of Balkanizing the country on tribal
lines rather than fostering national unity.
Matters
pertaining to academic crisis should be handled with the sense of professional
modas operandi. It is never sound in any civilized society to install a provost
on the basis of the name of the institution.
The
Constitution allows everyone to live or work anywhere within the country
without any limitation. The argument that Moi University is situated within the
Kalenjin community does not provide any ground for ethnic leadership. If
anything, the students therein do not all come from the Kalenjin community.
Asking
the tribal fanatics to apologize to the public for their ethnic bigotry is in
fact an indispensable demand, not an imploration, to be precise.
We
don’t have to beg for a moral responsibility to save the face of our integrity
as sovereign citizens. Political leaders are the citizens’ employees.
As
such, team North Rift, please do the honorable thing and apologize to the
public over the varsity squabbles to save this generation from the venom of
your shenanigans.
{Kevin
Owino, Maseno University}
It
has almost become the norm that certain institutions or ministries are a
preserve of specific communities. Who came up with this primitive concept?
Just
like all civilized nations, all citizens in Kenya have a right to apply for
public jobs. State institutions are required by law to give every citizen an
equal opportunity.
A
situation where some citizens practice discrimination against others should be
rejected by all and sundry. Wananchi must resist any attempts by leaders to
incite them to hate fellow citizens.
What
the political class wants is self-preservation to keep them in power. They have
very little regard for the ordinary citizens.
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{Bernard
Amaya, via mail}
Education
Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i is to blame for the ongoing Moi University
leadership feuds pitting the Government and local leaders.
The
Government should stop pointing an accusing finger at the leaders led by Uasin
Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago over the issue of the university’s vice
chancellor.
Dr.
Matiang’i has failed to solve the problem and ensure ethnic balancing as far as
universities management in the country is concerned.
The
Kalenjin community like other communities in the country has a right to be
heard and their grievances have to be addressed.