Vice-Chancellor Prof David Serem sent on compulsory leave following unrest at varsity

By KIPCHUMBA KEMEI

The Education Ministry has sent the Maasai Mara University acting Vice-Chancellor Prof David Serem on compulsory leave.

This follows a two-week unrest by a section of Maasai politicians, students and members of non-teaching staff who were against the alleged plans to confirm him as the institution’s VC.

Serem was given one-and-a-half months leave to allow learning to continue as a solution is sought over the crisis.  His deputy Professor Joseph Chacha will serve as VC in an acting capacity.

Those opposed to his confirmation charged that he condoned nepotism.

“He is a good administrator but nepotism worked against him. He hired people from his home area to head all departments. It was an insult that even the small jobs that were meant for locals like cooking, cleaning, security and others were taken by his kinsmen,” said their spokesperson Vincent Pere.

The protests, which almost turned violent, forced some students to leave and members of staff from his backyard to take leave in fear of attacks.   Anti riot police were called on several occasions to monitor the situation as the embattled VC went underground.

Celebrated departure

Those opposed to him celebrated his departure, saying that they hoped he would not return.

“The ministry should know that even after the expiry of the leave, we will not allow him back. We are ready to work with whoever is going to be confirmed as the VC,” added Pere.

Chacha told The Standard that Serem, according to the letter, was proceeding on normal leave, adding that he would be acting as VC during Serem’s absence.

Serem, who said the leave was “normal”, denied the allegations against him, saying while he was Narok University College principal (now the Maasai Mara University), he strove to improve the institution’s academic standards.

Leave normal

He also said he enjoyed cordial relations with local leaders and the community. “I have not taken leave for many years. Though it is coming when there are protests, it should be treated as normal. I have nurtured the university from the time it was a constituent college of Moi University. It is now a fully fledged campus offering all the courses a university should offer,” said Serem.