Seven names shortlisted for MMUST Vice Chancellor position

Recruitment of a new substantive vice-chancellor at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) has begun.

Seven of the 16 who applied for the position have been short-listed by Public Service Commission (PSC) for interviews set to start tomorrow. They include Professors Solomon Shibairo (acting VC), Sibilike Khamala Makhanu, Joseph Sarima Chacha, Kenneth Inyani Simala, Mary Abukutsa Onyango, Peter Nyamuhanga Mwita and Paul Shiundu Mwanza.

PSC wants to fill three positions of deputy vice-chancellors, which have remained without substantive office holders for three years. They are Finance and Administration, Academic and Students Affairs as well as Planning, Research and Innovation.

Applicants are expected in Nairobi, where the interviews will be conducted between August 11 and 13. Up to 33 candidates applied for the position of DVC (Planning, Research and Innovation) but only 12 were short-listed. They are Professors Lenah Nakhone, Paul Wambua, Fredrick Odhiambo, Vicky Khasandi, Grace Jerotich and Michael Lokuruka. 

Others are Professors Joshua Ondura, Charles Mutai, Hassan Were, Bernard Odhiambo, Levi Musalia and Collins Ouma. Those who applied for the position of DVC (Academic and Students Affairs) were 35.

Those who were short-listed are Professors Fredrick Ouma Wanyama, Kenneth Simala, Maurice Omolo, Margaret Oloko, Samson Gunga and Ezekiel Kiprop.

Others are Professors Peter Barasa, Ndiritu Gichuki, Hussein Golicha, Adema Palapala, Jonah Kindiki and Adu Wasike.

A list of those short-listed for the position of DVC Finance and Administration has not been made public.

PSC said short-listed candidates should be cleared by Kenya Revenue Authority, Higher Education Loans Board, Credit Reference Bureau, Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission before the date of interview.

Masinde Muliro University has been without a substantive VC since December 1, 2018, following the exit of Prof Fredrick Otieno (now deceased).

The institution has had three acting vice-chancellors since then. Prof Shibairo, formerly Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academics and Students Affairs at Kibabii University, is occupying the position in an acting capacity.

He took over from Asenath Sigot, who had held the position for nine months. Prof Sigot succeeded Joseph Bosire in July last year.

The university has also been without three deputy vice-chancellors since October 2018. 

Prof Judith Achoka is the acting deputy vice-chancellor in charge of Planning, Research and Innovation (PRI). She replaced Prof Charles Mutai, who had held the position in an acting capacity for 20 months. Mutai took over from Prof Egara Kabaji, whose term ended on January 23, 2019. 

Currently, Prof Mutai is the acting deputy vice-chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration after taking over from Dr Patrick Ojera in August last year. Ojera held the position in an acting capacity since June 2018, after Prof Joseph Rotich was made the vice-chancellor of Laikipia University. 

Prof Peter Odera is in charge of Academics and Students Affairs in an acting capacity. He took over from Dr Bernadette Sabuni, who had held the position since October 2018.

Local leaders have want the next VC to be from the region. Lurambi MP Titus Khamala said the region did not benefit from the university during the reign of the previous regime. 

But Kakamega Deputy Governor Philip Kutima said the university should be led by a qualified individual who understands the operations of a university.