The union said it had raised a red flag over financial misappropriation at Masinde Muliro University in a report in 2015 but no action was taken
University workers asked the government to take its war on corruption to the institutions of higher learning where they say graft is thriving.
The Kenya Universities Staff Union on Saturday said corruption is "killing public universities" and should be urgently addressed.
The union said it has on several occasions raised the red flag on corrupt dealings in public universities yet nothing had been done.
“We urge the government to take its war on corruption to universities where misuse of public funds have been reported. We have reported cases of financial misappropriation but investigations have never commenced," Kusu secretary-general Charles Mukhwaya said.
Among institutions where financial misappropriation cases have been raised are Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in 205, abuse of office at Embu University and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology.
“We have made written reports on a number of issues bordering on abuse of office and misuse of public resources in public universities but the government has not acted,” Mukwaya said.
Last month, Citizen TV carried an expose on financial misappropriations at the Maasai Mara University with funds running into tens of million said to have been lost.
But Mukhwaya said they could not entirely blame vice chancellor Prof Mary Walingo.
“As a union, we find it difficult to believe that the former VC would have engaged in such reckless plunder of resources without the blessings of the council.”
The union said the council has no moral obligation to stay in office if it was not aware of the plunder.
The union said the council should be disbanded to pave way for investigations into the alleged Sh190 million plunder.
Mukhwaya said such a move will all0w employees with damning evidence to come forward and volunteer the information to investigators.
The union said it had received information that its members were being threatened against volunteering information.
"Some of our colleagues have genuine concerns on security of their lives largely due to the sensitive departments they work in and what they know about the allegations,"
Masaai Mara University Council chairman Dr. Samuel Ochola while announcing the suspension of Prof Walingo said they were ready to cooperate with Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
“No staff will be victimised as we will use the internal mechanism to deal with those involved,” Ochola said.
edited by peter obuya