I taught at University and supervised lecturers, says Form Four leaver

David Bungei a form four leaver who claims to have recruited students and lecturered classes at Maasai Mara University.

A Form Four leaver yesterday told a court in Nakuru he recruited students and lectured at Maasai Mara University.

David Bungei told Employment and Labour Relations Court judge Stephen Radido that he also played a major role in supervising lecturers for two semesters before his services were irregularly terminated.

Mr Bungei said he sat his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination at Ndalat High School in Uasin Gishu in 1996 and attained a mean grade of C.

For 13 years, the father of one operated a butchery in Narok town and doubled as a tractor driver before he was employed on temporary basis by the university on May 2009.

Thirteen months later, in July 2010, because of his outstanding performance, his employer appointed him as a grounds attendant, a capacity in which he served until April 2012.

In a letter of appointment signed by Deputy Principal Administration and Finance Gerald Kimani, the 39-year-old was to receive a salary of Sh16,374 and a house allowance of Sh10,325 monthly.

RECALL CERTIFICATES

A second letter signed by the university’s acting registrar of administration, Samson Kisirkoi, showed Bungei was deployed to Kilgoris learning centre to help in recruitment of students.

“This is to inform you that it has been decided that you be deployed to Kilgoris to assist in recruitment of students in the new centre. You will also be expected to be sending reports to the registrar of academic affairs for necessary action,” read the internal memo also copied to deputy principals.

Two years after, another memo was dispatched to his new work station, this time round from the deputy principal of academic affairs Joseph Chacha. “As a matter of urgency forward to my office, the part-time teaching load (both internal and external part-time) for May-September 2012 session to enable appointment letters of part-time teaching to be done,” read the memo dated October 2012.

“Declaration of teaching workload form should be used in indicating the units taught. They should be duly filled and signed by the chairperson of the department and the dean of school,” it added.

But in 2014 the employer terminated his services.

His lawyer, Joshia Oumo, urged the court to uphold his constitutional rights but also to consider all the certificates he oversaw during his tenure.

Justice Radido, expected to deliver a judgment in July 15, demanded to know from the university if the hundreds of certificates issued to unsuspecting students had been recalled.

“Given that the university has realised that some certificates had been irregularly issued, is there any attempt to recall such, by placing an advertisement in a local daily?” he asked.

The courses he helped establish included Master in Education Administration, Degree in Education, Diploma in Education, Degree in Business Management, Diploma in Community Development and Social Work and several certificates.

“I sat and oversaw the recruitment of 21 lecturers for two academic years 2012/2013. Exams were marked and successful students awarded duly signed certificates after completion in their areas of specialisation,” said Bungei.

While appearing before a disciplinary committee at the university’s boardroom, chaired by Deputy Vice Chancellor Simon Ole Seno, the panel noted the administration erred in sending Bungei to the learning centre.

He was required to defend himself against charges of improper guidance to students, unlawful and fraudulent teaching and awarding of certificates as well as misuse of petty cash.

The committee said Bungei, apart from allegedly charging Sh10,000 for certificates in Information Technology, he signed the certificates.

“He was guilty of the offences. But the management was to blame owing to the appointment letter that gave him duties beyond his capability,” the team said in its verdict.

Bungei admitted collecting fees but said he used the money because the then Deputy Vice Chancellor Samson Kisirkoi failed to approve the petty cash he had requested. “I used the money to accommodate lecturers, buy chairs and blackboards. But I recruited students hence did not neglect duty,” he argued.

However, reacting to the claims, Mr Kisirkoi argued there was nothing wrong in the complainant ascending the employment ladder. “It is not impossible for a hardworking driver to become a company’s CEO and the case at hand is not unique,” said Kisirkoi when asked.

The 39-year-old is now pursuing a degree in public administration.