Vice Chancellor of Masinde Muliro University of Agriculture and Technology (MMUST) Prof. Frederick Otieno, has denied that he is supposed to have proceeded on a six month leave to pave way for the recruitment of a successor.
In a press statement, Professor Otieno noted that none of the VCs in public Universities had ever proceeded on such leave.
The VC cited Karatina, Chuka, Kabianga, Technical University of Kenya and University of Eldoret as examples of academia where those in charge had not been affected by a demand that they go for half year leave before their second terms were renewed a fortnight ago.
Professor Otieno dismissed as unfounded a perception that his integrity was dubious, adding that he was being fought because of his firm stand against corruption.
He pointed out that a debt of Sh.0.5 Billion which was pending in salaries had been cleared since he joined the institution in 2014 while suppliers had been paid a total of Sh.400 million.
The university, he said, had also cleared a Kenya Revenue Authority debt of Sh.1. 2 Billion.
He refuted claims that he was practicing nepotism saying that a female relative of his mentioned by his detractors was working at the university prior to his employment there.
According to University Academic Staff Union’s Professor Sammy Kubasu the VC should vacate office six months prior to the appointment of his successor.
Flanked by Ronald Wamalwa of KUDHEIHA, during a press conference last week, Professor Kubasu accused the VC of making the academia incur a loss of over 18 Million after he terminated a contract.
But Professor Otieno said that he did not know what contract was being cited.
By Bantaleo Muhindi
