POWERFUL UNIVERSITY UNION PETITIONS GOVERNMENT OVER VCs CONTRACTS
Kanini Evans Kariuki
January 30, 2010
PROFESSOR MUGA K'OLALE- THE WIDELY RESPECTED SCHOLAR, PRINCIPLED, CHARISMATIC, ARTICULATE AND FIERY SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE INFLUENTIAL UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC STAFF UNION (UASU), KENYA, LEADS HIS PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES IN SENDING A TOUGH NOTE TO THE KENYA GOVERNMENT IN PROTEST AGAINST RENEWAL OF VCs CONTRACTS AND THEIR DEPUTIES. WILL THE RUNNING BROUHAHA OVER THE NAGGING QUESTION GET RESOLVED? READ ON.........
EXASPERATED by the goings on in some Kenyan public universities, the mighty University Academic Staff Union (UASU) has, in a new dimension, finally petitioned the government over the alleged issue of irregular extension of services of vice-chancellors and deputy vice-chancellors in some public universities.
Addressing the press, the union´s Secretary General Prof Muga K´olale, disclosed that he had written a letter to the Minister for Higher Education, Dr Sally Kosgey, the Permanent Secretary and the Secretary to the cabinet in protest against the said scandal which was exposed by The People Daily-one of East Africa's mainstream newspapers last week.
In his letter, K´olale stated that his union had asked the government to investigate the issue and go public about it as the matter was serious.
Prof K´olale recalled that UASU has been fighting for competitive sourcing of the appointments of the holders of the offices of the vice-chancellor and the deputy vice-chancellor.
He charged that the government was initially serious about the need for competitive sourcing of the two coveted positions but it had subsequently reneged on its stand, and allowed abuse.
Prof K´olale was accompanied by the unions chairman Sammy Kubasu, the vice chairperson, Edwina Kawaka, the organizing secretary Musalia Edebe and the treasurer Moses N. Muchina.
The Secretary General revealed that his union would be compelled to seek legal redress over the matter since it grossly affected the quality of education in the country.
Said he:
"The vice-chancellor of the University of Nairobi , George Magoha and the deputy vice-chancellor of Maseno University Finance and Administration, Prof Mary Malingo have had their contracts renewed without competitive sourcing".
Prof K´olale further stated that UASU had information to the effect that a number of vice -chancellors including Prof Fredrick Onyango of Maseno University, the institution's deputy vice-chancellor of Academic Affairs Mark Awiti, and the vice-chancellor of Egerton University, Prof James Tuitoek, whose terms are about to expire, are allegedly lobbing the government to renew their appointments without competitive sourcing.
"Our position as a union is that this move is setting a dangerous precedent which does not augur well for the corporate governance of the public universities including professional management", Prof K´olale maintained.
He urged the government to intervene and reverse this process which he charge had the potential to brew up industrial instability and professional abuse in the public universities.
Prof K´olale- recognized for his outspokenness on a number of issues affecting UASU and its members, challenged executives of some public universities and their deputies to disclose the reasons behind the automatic renewal of their contracts.
"We warn that the disgraced former Secretary General of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) retired justice Aaron Ringera was removed from office due to what appears to constitute corruption and even impunity. There is no justification, whatsoever, for the government to offer preferential treatment to others in the era of competitiveness", the fire-spitting Secretary General further charged.
He asked the government to justify re-appointments of the vice-chancellors and their deputies in the public universities.
"A sickening picture is unfortunately being put in place, and other universities which have not yet joined the bandwagon, will soon follow suit. Ironically, those perpetrating the vice were themselves appointed through competitive sourcing", Prof K´olale regretted.
With UASU having now sent a protest note to the government over the matter, it remains to be seen how the powers-that-be will handle or react to the issue at hand. But from the look of things, some dilly-dallying in resolving the matter abounds.
A tug-of-war between the concerned parties could persist for sometime. However, UASU- reputed for its boldness, is not likely to backpedal on its stand.
The union has for long clashed with the authorities over a myriad of topics ranging from exploitation of its members to injustices in the re-appointment of senior officials, and at no time has it ever appeared to yield.
Even though the situation in Kenya has generally improved with the expansion of the democratic space- notably a far-cry from the unfathomable authoritarianism by the past government, some affairs,viz the case in question, need straightening in the public universities and in the public interest.
The culture of greed that is beginning to creep among the top cream of some public universities, at the expense of transparency and accountability, should be stamped out if the quality of education is to scale giddy heights in this East African country.
EXASPERATED by the goings on in some Kenyan public universities, the mighty University Academic Staff Union (UASU) has, in a new dimension, finally petitioned the government over the alleged issue of irregular extension of services of vice-chancellors and deputy vice-chancellors in some public universities.
Addressing the press, the union´s Secretary General Prof Muga K´olale, disclosed that he had written a letter to the Minister for Higher Education, Dr Sally Kosgey, the Permanent Secretary and the Secretary to the cabinet in protest against the said scandal which was exposed by The People Daily-one of East Africa's mainstream newspapers last week.
In his letter, K´olale stated that his union had asked the government to investigate the issue and go public about it as the matter was serious.
Prof K´olale recalled that UASU has been fighting for competitive sourcing of the appointments of the holders of the offices of the vice-chancellor and the deputy vice-chancellor.
He charged that the government was initially serious about the need for competitive sourcing of the two coveted positions but it had subsequently reneged on its stand, and allowed abuse.
Prof K´olale was accompanied by the unions chairman Sammy Kubasu, the vice chairperson, Edwina Kawaka, the organizing secretary Musalia Edebe and the treasurer Moses N. Muchina.
The Secretary General revealed that his union would be compelled to seek legal redress over the matter since it grossly affected the quality of education in the country.
Said he:
"The vice-chancellor of the University of Nairobi , George Magoha and the deputy vice-chancellor of Maseno University Finance and Administration, Prof Mary Malingo have had their contracts renewed without competitive sourcing".
Prof K´olale further stated that UASU had information to the effect that a number of vice -chancellors including Prof Fredrick Onyango of Maseno University, the institution's deputy vice-chancellor of Academic Affairs Mark Awiti, and the vice-chancellor of Egerton University, Prof James Tuitoek, whose terms are about to expire, are allegedly lobbing the government to renew their appointments without competitive sourcing.
"Our position as a union is that this move is setting a dangerous precedent which does not augur well for the corporate governance of the public universities including professional management", Prof K´olale maintained.
He urged the government to intervene and reverse this process which he charge had the potential to brew up industrial instability and professional abuse in the public universities.
Prof K´olale- recognized for his outspokenness on a number of issues affecting UASU and its members, challenged executives of some public universities and their deputies to disclose the reasons behind the automatic renewal of their contracts.
"We warn that the disgraced former Secretary General of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) retired justice Aaron Ringera was removed from office due to what appears to constitute corruption and even impunity. There is no justification, whatsoever, for the government to offer preferential treatment to others in the era of competitiveness", the fire-spitting Secretary General further charged.
He asked the government to justify re-appointments of the vice-chancellors and their deputies in the public universities.
"A sickening picture is unfortunately being put in place, and other universities which have not yet joined the bandwagon, will soon follow suit. Ironically, those perpetrating the vice were themselves appointed through competitive sourcing", Prof K´olale regretted.
With UASU having now sent a protest note to the government over the matter, it remains to be seen how the powers-that-be will handle or react to the issue at hand. But from the look of things, some dilly-dallying in resolving the matter abounds.
A tug-of-war between the concerned parties could persist for sometime. However, UASU- reputed for its boldness, is not likely to backpedal on its stand.
The union has for long clashed with the authorities over a myriad of topics ranging from exploitation of its members to injustices in the re-appointment of senior officials, and at no time has it ever appeared to yield.
Even though the situation in Kenya has generally improved with the expansion of the democratic space- notably a far-cry from the unfathomable authoritarianism by the past government, some affairs,viz the case in question, need straightening in the public universities and in the public interest.
The culture of greed that is beginning to creep among the top cream of some public universities, at the expense of transparency and accountability, should be stamped out if the quality of education is to scale giddy heights in this East African country.
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