North Rift leaders call for overhaul of varsity leadership to avert strikes

University of Eldoret students leave the institution after being sent home following a strike. Local leaders have blamed the institution’s management for frequent strikes and called for their sacking. [Photo: Kevin Tunoi/Standard ]

Three North Rift legislators have called for the overhaul of University of Eldoret (UoE) management to end the crisis at the institution, which has led to frequent strikes.

West Pokot Senator John Lonyangapuo said the trouble bedevilling the institution was as a result of failure by current management to effectively co-ordinate learning and other activities.

"The Education Ministry should pay attention to issues surrounding UoE. Many people are blaming the management, led by the vice chancellor," said Prof Lonyangapuo.

Lonyangapuo, who served as a Principal at the institution for five years when it was still a constituent college of Moi University, said the university has kept the same administrators for years, making it hard for it to progress.

Leadership queries

"The individuals I left working there still head their respective dockets. They were doing excellently then, but have failed to thrive after the institution changed," he explained.

"Most likely, the current VC has been overwhelmed by the demands of the institution. This is not tribal, but a performance matter. Maybe it is time someone else took over," added the senator.

Uasin Gishu Senator Isaac Melly who was the first to raise concerns over the crisis echoed Lonyangapuo's sentiments, saying the problem is poor leadership at the institution.

"I once said the top management at UoE has continuously portrayed poor leadership. We can see this from incessant students unrest. They have locked out local youth from employment and outsourced employees from outside," Melly explained.

He said Uasin Gishu is a cosmopolitan area and everybody residing there should be treated as a resident.

"As elected leaders, we will meet Deputy President William Ruto and deliberate on how to save the institutions, which is the only one of its kind in the region. We have given the Education Ministry an ultimatum to overhaul UoE leadership, failure to which we will take other measures," said Mr Melly.

External forces

He pointed out that Moi University and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital has also been rocked by effects of alleged mismanagement, hence compromising service delivery to the public.

Tinderet MP Julius Melly, who is the Vice Chairperson of National Assembly's Committee on Education, called on the line ministry to send VC Teresa Akenga and her team packing for failing to unite students, lecturers and the community.

"We will summon Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi and Permanent Secretary Belio Kipsang to explain why they have not taken necessary action to address complaints by staff and the local community," said Mr Melly.

In her response, Prof Akenga blamed external interference and "self-seekers" for the chaos that rocked the institution recently.

"We know of a group that has been inciting students to strike. We have evidence and photos of their meetings. But we call on the community and students to support us build this institution," said Akenga.

She said if there were other issues, they should be raised at institutional platforms.