- The hiring of a new VC stalled in November 2018 following a petition by activist Okiya Omtatah
Image: HILTON OTENYO
The recruitment of a vice-chancellor for Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology can proceed after the court cleared the process.
The hiring of a new VC stalled in November 2018 following a petition by activist Okiya Omtatah.
The recruitment followed the expiry of the term of the late Prof Fredrick Otieno in 2018. Otieno died a year after the end of his term as VC.
Omtatah moved to court to challenge the outcome of the interviews by the Public Service Commission saying the inclusion of two former council members in the interview panel influenced the outcome.
He said the inclusion of former council chairman Jeremy Bundi and members Samson Muchulele and Vayonda Sirma had invalidated the results.
But in a judgment delivered on Friday by the Employment and Labour Relations Court judge Stephen Radido, the court ruled the inclusion of the two was not illegal and fatal to the recruitment process.
PSC has submitted three candidates who emerged top in the interview process. They included Prof Joseph Bosire who is the current deputy vice-chancellor for Academics and Students Affairs at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology.
Bosire emerged top during the interviews. He was followed by Prof Sibilkhe Makhanu and Prof Mburugu who were second and third respectively.
The university has been without a substantive vice-chancellor since Otieno retired.
In March, Education CS George Magoha appointed Prof Solomon Shibairo to be the acting VC for six months. Bosire and Prof Asenath Sigot have also served as VC in an acting capacity.
The university's DVCs are also serving in acting roles following the expiry of the terms of previous officeholders.
It’s expected that Magoha, in consultation with the University Council will settle on one of the three names forwarded to the council by the PSC to end the leadership vacuum at the Kakamega-based institution.
Magoha in consultation with the council will also pick the DVCs from those shortlisted by PSC which also submitted three top candidates for each of the three deputy DVCs position for finance and administration, academic and students’ affairs as partnerships, research and innovation.
On March 19, Magoha appointed Dr Jane Mutua as the new university council chairperson for three years.
He also appointed Stephen Mutoro, Gathu Kiragu and Peter Ogango as council members with effect from March 10. Only Dr Ahmed Diriye whose term had not expired was retained on the council.
On Monday, National Assembly Majority Chief Whip Emmanuel Wangwe asked the government to hasten the appointment of the VC and his deputies.
“We are appealing to the Education CS to end this stalemate in the institution because it has been too long without proper leadership and we are all aware of the limitations of acting officials,” Wangwe said.
Edited by P.O