Students from Kisii National Polytechnic have threatened to go on strike to demand the removal of their principal, whom they accused of mismanaging the institution, nepotism among other vices.
Speaking to Education News on Thursday at Kisii town, the irate students threatened to go to the streets to demand Tom Mulati’s removal from the institution if the government will not intervene and probe him.
Among the accusations leveled against the principal involvement in local politics, failure to allocate enough funds to take students to the field study trips and other academic tours, and mistreatment of his staff, especially those employed by the Board of Management.
“He disregards his teaching staff; how does he expect us to excel when we are taught by a demoralized staff? This raises a big concern.” Said one of the students.
The students further accused the principal of nepotism, especially during the recruitment of staff, adding that he imports people from his community at the expense of the locals.
They were supported by former Kiogoro Ward MCA Samuel Apoko, who asked the principal to take his administrative roles seriously and stop involving himself with some local politicians who are out to taint the reputation of the institution.
“The government brought him here to improve the institution and help move it to the next step but not invoke him in other sidewalks. “ He said.
The MCA accused the principal of sidelining the institution’s chairman and cautioned him to ignore him at his own professional peril.
Apoko said that Kisii National Polytechnic has grown from humble backgrounds, saying that the community will not sit back and watch an individual or groups of people bring it down.
When contacted for comments, the principal denied the allegations. “You know when you are in politics, you respond like a politician, and since I’m not a politician, I cannot respond. “ He said.
The principal said that the Ministry of Education has its own way of conducting fact-finding missions and asked the public not to overstep its mandate.
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Mr. Mulat took over the leadership of Kisii National Polytechnic two years ago after the demise of John Nyariki.
He is an educationist with a wealth of experience in both teaching and leadership.
Among other academic institutions he has headed successfully are Kiswa TTI in Bungoma County and Sigalagala National Polytechnic, among other prominent government institutions.
Following the complaints, Cabinet Secretary for Education (CS) Julius Ogamba has commissioned a team to investigate the matter and provide a way forward to his office.
He said that the team is led by Principal Secretary for the State Department of Vocational Training and Technical Education (TVET) Esther Mworia.
He asked the involved parties to be patient and promised to appoint a team to investigate the matter and come out with independent findings that will lead to the pacification of the institution.
By Enock Okong’o.
