Celebrations by Academic Staff as Magoha declines to renew Bundi’s second term Mmust Council Chairman

Kakamega

By County Splash Reporter

• Magoha sends home Dr Bundi, appoints Dr Musangi who was rejected by the unions
• Bundi together with the unions had unending leadership wrangles with the late EX VC Prof Fred Otieno
• Prof Otieno in December last year, mourners said he was killed
• Mmust has all top management positions being held in acting capacity
• Building Bridges Initiative started by Prof Bosire, then acting VC has turned out to be a big scandal
• New Council in consultation with the Public Service Commission to help in filling the vacant positions
• Last year the university recorded the highest number of deaths of both Academic staff and students

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has finally kicked out Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (Mmust) Council Chairman Dr Jeremy Bundi and replaced him with Dr Jane Musangi Mutua.

Dr Bundi who together with other council members namely, Don Riaroh, Vayonda Sirmah, Joyce Nderitu, Dr Samson Muchelule, David Matende (Ministry of Education Rep) and Dorothy Kimeu (Treasury Rep) were all sent packing.

Bundi’s efforts to use Statehouse operatives to have him tenure of office renewed did not bore any fruits.

Magoha did not renew their second term in office after running down the university to its lowest ebb, orchestrating leadership wrangles between the university management and the workers.

 Instead, Prof Magoha vide Gazette Notice No. 2365 dated March 20, this year, appointed Dr Musangi for a three year period to run the affairs of the university. Other council members are Stephen Mutoro, the Cofek Secretary General, Connie Okwisa Mogaka, Joshua Onyango Ogango and Gad Gathu Kiragu.

“The Cabinet Secretary of Education appoints Dr Jane Musangi as the Chairperson for the council of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (Mmust), for a period of three years with effect from March 10,” read part of Magoha’s gazette notice.

Dr Bundi was working in cohorts with the university’s unions namely, the Universities Academic Staff (Uasu), Kenya Universities Staff Union (Kusu) and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (Kudheiha) to fight the administration of the late Ex Vice Chancellor, Prof Fredrick Otieno.

Prof Otieno’s untimely death was largely attributed to the frustrations the Council and the Unions had subjected him to and there (Council) refusal to give him a second tenure in office.

This was evident when Amb. Amina Mohamed, the then Education Cabinet Secretary, revoked Bundi’s appointment and appointment Dr Musangi to Mmust. Her stint at the helm of leadership was short lived after Bundi rallied university union representatives to file a case in court that saw her appointment revoked.

She had appointed Bundi as Chairman of council for Pwani University for a period of one year. Amina also revoked the appointment of Kossiom Frank Ole Kibelekenya as a member of Mmust university council and replaced him with Dr Ahmed Mohamed Diriye for a period of three years.

Mr Kossiom resigned in protest in mid-January citing ‘frustrations’ from the Education Ministry.

Earlier, the unions stormed a Council meeting that was being chaired by Dr Musangi and tried evicting her and then acting VC Prof Joseph Bosire did not stop them from disrupting a council meeting. Later, it was discovered that Bosire was also working with the unions to frustrate the new council chair.

The unions wanted Bundi back at Mmust so that he can use Bosire in disregard of the law to employ some members of the union who had been sacked.

They were to be hired back to the university through the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) that was started by Bosire. He too as kicked out unceremoniously and replaced by the current Acting VC Prof Asenath Sigot.

Other top management positions at the institution are being held in acting capacity with boardroom wars that rocked the university council making it difficult for them to be replaced.

Prof Charles Mutai the current acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) in charge of Planning and Research (PRI) took over from Prof Egara Kabaji whose tenure ended on January 23, this year.

Prof Josephine Ngaira, former DVC for Academics and Students Affairs tenure expired in October last year and was replaced by Dr. Eng. Bernadette Sabuni also in an acting capacity and Dr Patrick Ojera is holding the DVC Finance docket after then DVC Prof Joseph Rotich was appointed Vice Chancellor for Laikipia University.

Academic Staff at the university on Friday were in celebrations after learning that Dr Bundi has finally left Mmust.

However, there is a rumour the union members are also planning to move to court to stop Dr Musangi from assuming office and that they want Magoha to re-appoint Bundi as the university’s council Chairman.

“Rumour has it that union members are planning to move to court to stop the new chair of the council from assuming her roles. Kindly, be informed that Bundi will not chair Mmust council again. Not in his lifetime,” read a post in a WhatsApp group.

“Unions cannot purport to run affairs of the University. Who is the union without members support, if you know what I mean, tarumbeta na resistance. Cursed be my clan if we allow Bundi to stay on even for a minute,” read another post.

The move has caused anxiety among the staff and are now threatening to stage a demo against the union leaders on grounds that they are being used by Bundi to paralyse operations at the university.

Ends