The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has launched investigations into alleged irregular award of degrees at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST).
According to EACC, at least 200 students, majorly from the Department of Education bribed some six university officials to avoid sitting supplementary examinations and in order to be on the graduation list.
The commission’s spokesperson Erick Ngumbi, said the act violates basic principles that govern institutions of higher learning.
“We have launched investigations into a fresh scandal at the JOOUST in relation to the graduation that took place last month October 18. It is alleged that six university officials received bribes to facilitate the graduation of over 200 unqualified students,” said Mr Ngumbi.
He was speaking at Aboke in Ugenya sub-County during the burial of Joyce Oginde (mother of the EACC chairman, Bishop David Oginde),
“The students who were supposed sit for supplementary examinations, are reported to have instead bribed the six officials and got their names fixed on the graduation list.”
Mr Ngumbi also called on the university administration to move with speed and arrest the situation even as investigations are going on.
“The commission, as the investigations continue, expects the university administration to move with speed and take administrative action to remedy the menace because if investigations confirm the allegations, then that would be a serious problem,” he added.
Mr Ngumbi hinted that a similar pattern of events had been replicated in at least 18 universities which the commission is investigating.
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission spokesman Eric Ngumbi addresses journalists at the agency’s head office in Nairobi early last month.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
“If you look at what is happening in our universities and the pattern of reports from 18 universities it is emerging that these problems are caused by serious leadership and governance problems,” he noted.
He also pointed out that the top leadership of the universities under probe were part of the problems affecting the institutions.
“For universities such as Moi University and the University of Nairobi, the very top leadership is accused of being part of the problem,” he mentioned.
Mr Ngumbi noted that it was wrong for the University of Nairobi to justify an illegality where an official was promoted to a senior position without necessary qualifications.
“Instead of taking action after an irregularity has occurred the leadership instead decided to respond to the commission by justifying why the officer has to continue staying in office,” said Mr Ngumbi.
He challenged the Ministry of Education to strengthen frameworks within the ministry to handle some of the emerging issues within the institutions of higher learning.
“Some of these should be handled by the regulatory bodies, and the universities themselves, EACC should be left to deal with matters related to graft,” noted the spokesman.
