Newly named Moi University Acting Vice-Chancellor Kiplagat Kotut has assured students that rampant cases of missing marks, which have been a big headache at the institution, will now be a thing of the past.
Addressing the Moi University community after he was formally unveiled on Monday, Prof Kotut promised to inject a leadership style that would ensure teamwork with both academic and non-academic staff, with a view of bringing industrial harmony that has not existed before at the institution.
He delivered his maiden speech to attendants of his meeting at the 2,000-capacity university students’ centre, noting that he was out to restore the institution’s lost glory.
"With the support of the Ministry of Education, council members under the chairmanship of Prof Noah Midamba, and the university community, I am optimistic of delivering the huge task ahead of me to ensure the institution attracts more local and international students," assured Prof Kotut.
He was named acting VC by the newly installed University council, which last week sent on compulsory leave the University Vice-Chancellor Isaac Kosgey and other senior managers in a move aimed at addressing the financial and administrative challenges that have faced the institution.
Prof Kosgey was sent on an eight-month compulsory accrued leave, while his two DVCs Prof Isaac Kimengi (Academic Affairs) and Prof Kirimi Kiriamiti (Administration, Planning and Research) were sent on one-year sabbatical leave.
Senior Legal Officer Patronilla Chepkwony and Acting Chief Finance Officer Joshua Koecha were suspended as Prof Kotut was named acting VC and Prof Khaemba Ongeti acting DVC academic, research, extension, and student affairs.
The changes were announced at the weekend by Council Chairperson Noah Midamba at the Ministry of Education headquarters in Nairobi.
The newly named acting VC’s missing marks promise was well received by more than 14,000 students, many of whom have been victims.
Prof Kotut assured that no student would be barred from graduating on account of missing marks, which has been a major stress.
He told the university community to tighten their belts, noting that his quest to ensure the financially crippled institution roars back to life will not be a walk in the park.
He further stated that there was no way the university could stand on its own financially without attracting more students to enable it to generate adequate resources to run its core mandate of research and teaching.
The VC pledged to work with the teaching and non-teaching staff, reiterating his commitment to address pertinent challenges facing the university.
"I will engage all stakeholders to ensure that we redeem the image of this premier university which was on the brink of collapse," he said.
The University Council chairman assured the institution staff that their salaries for January will hit their back accounts by Friday.
"Expect your salary payments for January this Friday and those who will not have received it by then, just call me," he said.
He said the university which sits on 3,000 prime agricultural is able to sustain itself instead of overlying on the central government subsidy.
"As a council, we are determined to transform this university now that we have the goodwill and support from the Ministry of Education and staff of the local community. We shall also involve the local political leadership to ensure nobody is left behind to protect this institution from going under,” the council chairman said.
University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) Moi University chapter secretary General Busolo Wegesa and Kusa Kenya University Staff Union Secretary Mary Chepkemoi welcomed the new VC.
As unionists representing various cadres of workers at the university, we welcome with both arms the new VC. Let me assure you that we are ready and willing to cooperate with you to ensure the institution is back to its former glory," he said.
The union official exuded hope that the newly named acting VC would bring the much-needed unity and harmony, which he claimed had been missing in the previous administration under embattled VC Prof Isaac Kosgey who was sent on leave last week.
"As unionists representing workers, we have never held a single meeting with the former VC for the last seven years. He never embraces consultation meetings with us during industrial action," Mr Wegesa claimed.
