Kakamega
By County Splash Team
It is now official, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (Mmust) is on the brink of collapse if the shenanigans going on pitting university unions and the academic staff will be entertained.
The university has been in war for over two years now, which was engineered by the former council Chairman Dr Jeremy Bundi who used to work with the unions to frustrate the administration of the late Ex Vice Chancellor Prof Fredrick Otieno.
This is after Prof Otieno refused to approve his many council meetings that were only meant to pocket allowances running into millions.
As questions, remain unanswered on who killed Prof Otieno and of what benefit those who wanted him dead would benefit, another war is brewing following the posting of Dr Jane Musangi Mutua to replace Dr Bundi whose tenure of office expired on March 10.
In exercise of powers conferred to me by section 36 (1) (a) and (d) of the Universities Act, 2012, the Cabinet Secretary of Education appoints, Dr Jane Musangi Mutua as the Chairperson of the Council of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (Mmust) for a period of three years effective, March 10, 2020,” read part of the gazette notice by Prof George Magoha.
In exercise of powers conferred to me by section 36 (1) (a) and (d) of the Universities Act, 2012, the Cabinet Secretary of Education appoints, Dr Jane Musangi Mutua as the Chairperson of the Council of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (Mmust) for a period of three years effective, March 10, 2020,” read part of the gazette notice by Prof George Magoha.
Earlier efforts by then Education CS Amina Mohamed to appoint Dr Musangi head Mmust council were thwarted by the court when her appointment was revoked. The unions moved to court and pushed for reinstatement of Bundi as council chair.
The University Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya Universities Staff Union (Kusu), and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (Kudheiha) who successfully pushed Prof Otieno out of the university, are also out vomiting venom.
“We are the stakeholders of Mmust fraternity but Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha did not consult us before appointing a new council for us. We Have given him a one week ultimatum to rescind his decision including revoking that gazette notice,” said Ronald Wamalwa, the Kusu Secretary General in a presser today.
“We are the stakeholders of Mmust fraternity but Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha did not consult us before appointing a new council for us. We Have given him a one week ultimatum to rescind his decision including revoking that gazette notice,” said Ronald Wamalwa, the Kusu Secretary General in a presser today.
Mr Wamalwa avers that Prof Magoha erred in law in appointing Dr Musangi as the new chairperson of the Mmust council without involving the unions and that if a week elapses before Magoha revokes the gazette notice, they will take the next action not limited to seeking court redress over the matter.
It is this presser that saw Dr Elias Anekeya come out guns blazing saying they are in full support of Dr Musangi and that the academic staff will no longer entertain the unions, terming them as saboteurs to the growth the university.
“We are happy to have a new council led by Dr Jane Musangi but we are perturbed by rumours coming from the unions that they will not allow Musangi at Mmust. As Mmust fraternity we are prepared to deal with them and it won’t be business as usual,” said Dr Anekeya.
In WhatsApp group chats at the institution, it clearly shows a disjointed lot and ready to exchange blows with one another with just little provocation.
“Is it the kind of boss this University had , stretched some quarters beyond limits n forced them to seek alternative means of addressing their concerns ? When did these quarters begin identifying with Council and Why?” a senior lecturer posted.
He added : “This we can patronize in family life too .If you are a father who embraces egalitarian approach into parenting, you will find your children finding it pretty easy to present issues to you , rather not bringing in neighbours and anyone who cares to address conflicts in your home. All your problems including the ugly ones will be out there. I mean we are Africans and we know this too well,”
Another one posted: “What I don’t want to imagine is a “vengeance outlook/ debate”
Explaining circumstances of 2019 (very sad for MMUST family), Dr Jane Musangi Mutua occurred earlier than expected and it’s the court that processed her return to PWANI albeit unceremoniously just as she arrived),”
“This precious lady understands her TOR so well on our members of academic staff too .Basically the meeting point between the Council and Staff (in a well governed institution) is almost nonexistent,” another lecturer posted on a WhatsApp group.
“This precious lady understands her TOR so well on our members of academic staff too .Basically the meeting point between the Council and Staff (in a well governed institution) is almost nonexistent,” another lecturer posted on a WhatsApp group.
“Personally, I welcome Dr Jane Musangi Mutua _ a mother, a sister a wife , a daughter , a grandmother and a Council Chair to use her motherly demeanor as Prof Sigot has demonstrated , to steer MMUST to next level .I say Womens Prowess in Leadership Crises is Amazing ! In case she veers off we will still remind her to remain accountable to staff welfare anytime/ where,” posted another Lecturer.
Ends
