Jaramogi university: Why 2024 graduates will be vetted before receiving certificates
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Bondo Town, Siaya County.
What you need to know:
- The University Senate acknowledged irregularities in the preliminary graduation list.
- The University Senate also gave the nod for EACC to be involved in the review.
All students who graduated from the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology on October 18 will be re-examined before receiving their certificates, the university senate has announced.
In a press release posted on its official X account, the University Senate acknowledged irregularities in the preliminary graduation list, which were identified and addressed before the event.
To ensure the integrity of the certification process, the university has formed an audit committee tasked with verifying all graduates.
“We wish to clarify that due to stringent internal controls, including a robust whistle blowing policy, the university noticed that some students’ names were appearing in the preliminary graduation list when they ought not to,” read a statement signed by Prof Emily Akuno, the vice chancellor.
“Consequently, these names were expunged from the final graduation list. As a precautionary measure, the university immediately after graduation constituted a team to conduct a thorough audit of all graduands before issuing any certificate.”
The university senate also gave the nod for the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to be involved in the review, adding that the process would be expedited.
This comes just days after the EACC issued a two-week ultimatum to the institution to provide it with original documents for the 11th and 12th examinations.
In a letter to the vice-chancellor dated November 25, the commission demanded that the administration provide them with original documents; official student transcripts, details and records of students' course work; records of examination results; the list of students required to sit supplementary examinations and their results; and the 11th and 12th graduation lists, among other relevant documents.
“The EACC, pursuant to its constitution and statutory mandate, is conducting investigations into allegations of corruption and unethical conduct relating to the 11th and 12th graduations at JOOUST, focusing on the School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences,” reads the letter.
EACC spokesperson Erick Ngumbi had earlier condemned the act of unqualified students bribing their way onto the graduation list, describing it as a violation of the basic principles governing 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 graduation of over 200 unqualified students,” Mr Ngumbi said last week.
He urged the university administration to act swiftly and put an end to the situation while investigations are ongoing.
He also called on the Ministry of Education to strengthen the frameworks within the ministry to deal with some of the emerging issues within the tertiary institutions.
“There are issues that are supposed to be handled by the regulatory bodies, the university itself, as the EACC deals with the issues relating to corruption. The Ministry of Education must strengthen the frameworks within to handle the matters concerning the quality and standards of higher education,” the spokesman said.
The revelation of malpractices at the university came at a time when the EACC is pursuing another issue of financial misappropriation at various universities such as Moi University where Sh2.2 billion was allegedly misappropriated.
