A number of public universities across the country are on the radar of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over graft allegations running into billions of shillings.
Some of the misgivings include corruption, unethical conduct and academic fraud which according to the graft watchdog are increasingly finding their way into our leading universities.
The ethics body says vices are primarily manifested through theft of public funds in the implementation of capital infrastructural projects and examination malpractices.
These challenges, according to the EACC, potentially compromise the very high quality and standards that are expected of Kenya’s higher education system.
Speaking to the press in Ugenya Constituency, Siaya County, where top EACC officials were attending the burial service of the late Mama Joyce Oginde, mother of EACC chairperson Bishop David Oginde, the commission’s spokesperson Eric Ngumbi said that 18 public universities are under investigation for theft of public funds, unethical conduct and academic fraud.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) is the latest target for a Ksh2.6 billion scandal involving 6 construction projects.
From the reports received and investigated so far, it emerges that in some universities such as Nairobi and Moi, senior managers including Vice Chancellors (VCs) and Council members are part of the elaborate and daring scheme to defraud the institutions of billions.
Ngumbi said in Moi University, the commission is investigating allegations that the VC and other senior officials have embezzled public funds through a fraudulent scheme hatched in collusion with consultants and contractors in the implementation of infrastructural projects worth Ksh2.2 billion. So far, 59 persons of interest have recorded statements.
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At the University of Nairobi, allegations that the university Council appointed a person without the requisite academic certificates to serve as its Chief Operations Officer, a position that was irregularly created, is being investigated. The commission has given the university 30 days to take administrative action to remedy the situation, as investigations continue.
In JOOUST, there are two major cases: One is that the former VC, DVC and four other officials, in collusion with building consultants and contractors, engaged in theft of public funds through fraudulent procurement and payments in the implementation of six capital projects at a cost of Ksh2,613,183,808.12.
He said payments have been made despite the projects not being fully completed as per the respective contracts.
The projects include a 1,000-capacity men’s hostel – Ksh844,058,672.12 (additional claim by contractor- Ksh179 million), ultra- modern library- Ksh408,340,00.00,Science Laboratory – Ksh628,117,128.00, Administration Block- Ksh301, 824,179.00, Research Complex – Ksh312,008,008.00, and a Tuition Block- Ksh650,000,000.00.
Ngumbi said the former VC, Chief Finance Officer, Head of Procurement, Legal Officer and the consultants colluded with the contractor to defraud the institution through an irregular variation of the initial project cost from Ksh663,941,731 to Ksh844,058,672.12. The contractor, who has curiously frozen the university bank accounts via a court order, made a further claim of Ksh179 million, raising the project cost to over Ksh1 billion.
He (contractor) claimed the retired VC left office with all the original documents relating to the project, but EACC has since retrieved them during a search operation conducted in the VC’s homes in Nairobi, Kisumu and Homa Bay.
The other case concerns a network of bribery allegations against 6 senior officials, which they received to facilitate the graduation of over 200 students who were not qualified having failed to sit several examinations.
He said the officials, who allegedly received the money through their M-Pesa and bank accounts, facilitated inclusion of the names of the students in the graduation list.
By Fredrick Odiero
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