Senate reads riot act to leaders for varsity protest

Senators want Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i to name a substantive head of Moi University.

The lawmakers also reprimanded politicians for mismanagement of the institution.

The senators censured Governor Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu), his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Alex Tolgos and some MPs who led a protest at the institution to eject acting Vice Chancellor Laban Ayiro following the exit of Richard Mibey.

They regretted that despite the university being a national entity, local leaders were rooting for someone from their ethnic community to lead it, and called on the National Cohesion and Integration Commission to submit a report to the Senate on the ethnic composition of public institutions.

A statement sought from the CS through the Education committee by Nandi Senator Stephen Sang on the leadership crisis at the university sparked heated debate. 

Criticised conduct

The irked legislators criticised the conduct of the elected leaders as one that took away from the country's constitutional gains.

Mr Sang questioned why the two deputy vice chancellors were appointed in an acting capacity.

"The CS should confirm to the public if indeed the university council interviewed for the post of VC. If so, what was the outcome? Can the CS disclose the details of the top three candidates as per the communication?," demanded Sang.

Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetang'ula (Bungoma) not only praised Sang on the matter but also commended Deputy President William Ruto and Deputy Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) for standing tall and castigating the leaders' actions.

Ethnic bigots

"I commend the DP and Murkomen for telling these ethnic bigots off regarding their primitive and uncouth behaviour that should not be tolerated in Kenya. Criminal proceedings should be preferred against these bigots who carried out their evil actions in broad daylight," he said.

To signify the gravity of the matter, senators John Lonyangapuo (West Pokot), Billow Kerrow (Mandera), Boni Khalwale (Kakamega), Wilfred Lesan (Bomet), Lenny Kivuti (Embu), Wilfred Machage (Migori) Murkomen, Abdulrahamn Ali (Wajir) and Anyang' Nyongo (Kisumu) all condemned the politicians' actions and demanded action taken against them.

They called on the CS to come up with an elaborate plan to depoliticise the affairs of learning institutions.