Lecturer in court over appointment of VCs

Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed. A lecturers at Kenyatta University has sued the Education ministry over the re-appointment of Maasai Mara, Kabianga, Technical and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga vice-chancellors. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

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Dr Itolondo, who teaches at Kenyatta University, argued that the re-appointment of Prof Francis Aduol (TUK), Prof Stephen Agong (Jaramogi Oginga Odinga), Kabianga’s Wilson Kipng’eno and Maasai Mara University’s Mary Walingo was not subjected to a competitive process.

A university lecturer yesterday moved to court to challenge the re-appointment of vice-chancellors.

Dr Wilbroda Itolondo wants the decision to re-appoint VCs in Technical University of Kenya, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kabianga and Maasai Mara universities, among others, for a second term, to be temporarily suspended.

Dr Itolondo, who teaches at Kenyatta University, argued that the re-appointment of Prof Francis Aduol (TUK), Prof Stephen Agong (Jaramogi Oginga Odinga), Kabianga’s Wilson Kipng’eno and Maasai Mara University’s Mary Walingo was not subjected to a competitive process.

She alleged that since Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed pointed out that the retaining of the vice-chancellors was based on their performance while announcing their re-appointment, the lecturer argued in her suit that there could be a possibility that some of those whose contracts were renewed are among those whom university councils had recommended their sacking.

She has sued the Attorney General, the Education CS and the four named universities. The respective Vice Chancellors of the said varsities are listed as interested parties in the case.

“There is no evidence that the re-appointment of the four and other individuals not known to me as vice-chancellors of public universities in Kenya was subjected to a competitive process since there was no advertisement and interviews for their positions,” said Dr Itolondo.

On May 20, the CS announced the renewal of contracts of vice-chancellors of public universities who included the four. Their contracts were set to expire by the end of this month.

Ms Mohamed had disclosed that some councils had recommended the sacking of their current VCs and that others wanted theirs retained for a second term.