Mandago and his team must apologize for ethnic epithets

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.

{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.