Why Tom Mboya University College must be a pacesetter for Public Universities in Kenya

Unemployed youths are also beaming with joy because they can now compete for the open job opportunities at the institution or to trade with it through tenders. Thus, the activities of this institution are closely monitored by many individuals who expect to eke a living either directly or indirectly.

However, a move by senior management of Maseno University will erode and extinguish the dreams and aspirations of several people. The Vice Chancellor Prof Julius Nyabundi, Prof Mary Kipsat and Prof Catherine Muhoma have employed their close relatives to key positions especially finance and procurement without following due processes or procedures.

 A spot check with National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to verify the contributing entities of those relatives reveal that none was ever employed anywhere yet they were seconded as staffs from Maseno University to help nurture Tom Mboya University College (TMUC).

Recently, National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) released University Staff Audit revealing that major ethnic blocks like Kikuyus, Kalenjins, Luos, Luhya and Kisii control over 70% of all jobs in Universities domiciled in their regions.

What the report failed to reveal is the relationship between those employees and the senior management of those respective Universities. Why should a VC encourage nepotism? What pride or gain will you have to deny young innocent graduates jobs? Do you have any remorse or guilt for your actions? University jobs are advertised as a formality since the positions are filled long before the adverts.

I therefore urge the Cabinet Secretary for Education Dr Fred Matiangi to use new Universities like TMUC as an example for reforms in the rotten University recruitment systems perpetuated by senior management. Unless we change such impunity with this institution, slaying nepotism and ethnicity will forever be a pipe dream.