UASU-MOI UNIVERSITY CHAPTER WRITES TO EACC OVER GRAFT CLAIMS

The universities academic staff union has now written to the EACC asking for investigations into claims of Sh5billion graft at Moi University.

UASU secretary general Jack Abok on Saturday said they have presented a seven-page document detailing areas they want to be investigated.

"We have a seven-page document which elucidates the problems we have been facing due to financial mismanagement and we have sent the copies to the relevant bodies. We hope action is taken fast because there is the habit of spending money to cover up on the wrongs already done," he said.

The university is also caught up in a management row after staff and students rejected the reinstated of former VC Richard Mibei who had retired.

Abok said the loss of funds and misuse happened during the reign of Prof Mibey, an issue that made them engage the University Council in a bid to redeem the institution.

"Moi University is on the verge of plunging deeper into a management crisis and needs urgent intervention from government and other stakeholders. We engaged the council over these issues and among its resolutions was to send Prof Mibey on terminal leave, but it has allowed him to return on unknown grounds," he said.

According to Abok, learning facilities in the institution cannot sufficiently cater for the large number of students besides the neglect of lecturers' welfare.

In March, students of the University rioted against the two-month absence of lecturers over a salary dispute.

The West campus students destroyed a bus and threw stones at buildings before anti-riot police were called in, arresting more than 30 of them.

The university's director of the Privately Sponsored Students Programme, who is also in charge of the campus, said the problem was being addressed.

Student leader Kipng'eno Ruto faulted the university for not paying lecturers, saying more than Sh200 million in school fees was collected.

"The lecturers say they have not been paid for months and some are owed up to Sh2 million in arrears. We are wondering why they are not being paid yet we have paid fees," Ruto said.